Last Updated on: 14th May 2021, 04:15 pm
“In 2013 my son was changing clubs from Cove to Fleet but whilst on holiday the team folded. The then manager Steve Mathews messaged me to say not to worry as he was going to try and manage another club before the start of the forthcoming season. A position became available at Hartley Wintney Hawks as the previous manager had stepped down. Steve took the position and invited my son and his friend to join the depleted squad he had been left.
It was a tough start for all as the squad weren’t up to to tough division they were left in. By Christmas we had elected to step down to the next division but unfortunately we were still relegated. The boys were obviously a little downhearted but stuck together. With a few new additions and the manager and parents keeping the team going , the team started to hold their own and enjoyed the winning feeling.
We changed from the NEHYL league in Hampshire to the East Berks league to continue playing on a Saturday, which in turn kept the team together. Gaining promotion in our first season by finishing second and then going one better the next season by winning the division. When we went to the prize giving and looked at the other teams kit and tracksuit , we realised we were well over due a kit change. We managed to secure a sponsor and with your help updated our kit through yourselves.
This season we were promoted two divisions , which again was a tough ask . Toward the end of the season the team managed to raise their game and finished a respectable mid table. With a few more new recruits this season , we are hoping to push on again and with a new kit we would look great picking up another trophy at the award ceremony next year !!! It goes to show that with the help of a manager who gives people a chance and keeps a group of young people together , you can improve and succeed. He has had to made some hard decisions but has been proved right. So a new kit would be a bit of a thank you to him as well.”
Craig Pemberton- Assistant