Maids Men ready to roll

Maidenhead Hockey Club Men’s 1sts get the ball rolling on their league campaign when they play host to rivals Sonning on Saturday - a game that skipper Neel Sood hopes will get his team’s promotion bid off to a flyer.

Having finished ninth and fifth in the past two years in the South Hockey League MBB&O Regional Division, Maids have targeted one of the two promotion places as a realistic aim for the season.

Captain Sood is certain he has the squad to make this hope a reality, saying: “We have added four or five players to the squad which means we probably have about 20 players to chose from - something we have not had for many years.

“This has given us real strength in depth and means, I hope, we should be able to mount a promotion bid.”

Having suffered a steady decline in fortunes since 2001, when the team reached the national play-offs, Maids are hopeful that they have halted their downward spiral and are now on the way back up. Sood said “We are stronger all throughout the club. We have 40-50 players coming to training every week and the spirit is really good.

“I am manager of the under 18 boys team and so have been charged with getting more young players into the senior squads, which I have been able to do. This is key for us.”

Sood, a product of the club’s youth system himself, is looking forward to the season and the challenges it will bring.

He said: “The two relegated teams - Rover Oxford and Eastcote - will be the teams to beat, Milton Keynes will also feature, as I hope will we.

“I will certainly be doing everything I can to ensure we have a successful season.

“It’s an honour to captain Maidenhead. I came through the junior system and so am very passionate about the club. It affected my game the first year I did it, but now it feels more natural and I really enjoy it.

“I would like to continue as captain for a few more years as I believe the consistency is important. This will be the third year in a row that the team have had the same captain and coach. This has not always been the case in the preceding years and I think it makes a difference.”

With his enthusiasm and commitment, and at just 25-years-old, it is not difficult to see Sood proudly wearing the white shirt and captain’s arm band for many years to come.