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Hockey stick European League

Click here to download the HBU team photoHaving won the English Premier League title Herne Bay United seniors will be competing in the European League for the 2007/8 season. This league has clubs from among the national champions of each country, the current holders of the Champions' League and the winner and runner-up of the CERS Cup 2006/7. As well as Herne Bay United the following teams will also be competing: The group matches (three at home and three away) will take place on October 20, November 17, December 15, January 19, February 16 and March 15 with the finals on May 10 and 11.

Fixtures and Results

The draw for the group stages took place on 16 September. Herne Bay United were drawn in Group B along with FC Porto of Portugal, C Pati Vic of Spain and Hockey Prato of Italy. The full fixtures and results for all four groups are shown below.

Date Home team Score Score Away team Group
20/10/07 C Pati Vilanova 0 v 7 Follonica Hockey A
20/10/07 FC Barcelona 7 v 1 RHC Wimmis A
20/10/07 Porto 20 v 1 Herne Bay United B
20/10/07 C Pati Vic 8 v 0 Hockey Prato B
20/10/07 Igualada HC 8 v 3 Candelaria SC C
20/10/07 RSC Cronenberg 0 v 3 Reus Deportiu C
20/10/07 OC Barcelos 1 v 6 C Esportiu Noia D
20/10/07 HC Liceo 1 v 0 Bassano Hockey D
17/11/07 Follonica Hockey 1 v 3 FC Barcelona A
17/11/07 RHC Wimmis 2 v 4 C Pati Vilanova A
17/11/07 Herne Bay United 0 v 14 C Pati Vic B
17/11/07 Hockey Prato 3 v 6 FC Porto B
17/11/07 Candelaria SC 5 v 0 RSC Cronenberg C
17/11/07 Reus Deportiu 2 v 1 Igualada HC C
17/11/07 C Esportiu Noia 1 v 2 HC Liceo D
17/11/07 Bassano Hockey 4 v 0 OC Barcelos D
15/12/07 Follonica Hockey 13 v 2 RHC Wimmis A
15/12/07 C Pati Vilanova 0 v 5 FC Barcelona A
15/12/07 Herne Bay United 2 v 3 Hockey Prato B
15/12/07 FC Porto 4 v 1 C Pati Vic B
15/12/07 Candelaria SC 3 v 2 Reus Deportiu C
15/12/07 Igualada HC 4 v 2 RSC Cronenberg C
15/12/07 C Esportiu Noia 6 v 5 Bassano Hockey D
15/12/07 OC Barcelos 5 v 3 HC Liceo D
19/01/08 Follonica Hockey 5 v 3 C Pati Vilanova A
19/01/08 RHC Wimmis 0 v 9 FC Barcelona A
19/01/08 Herne Bay United 0 v 21 FC Porto B
19/01/08 Hockey Prato 1 v 8 C Pati Vic B
19/01/08 Candelaria SC 3 v 1 Igualada HC C
19/01/08 Reus Deportiu 7 v 1 RSC Cronenberg C
19/01/08 C Esportiu Noia 3 v 2 OC Barcelos D
19/01/08 Bassano Hockey 3 v 6 HC Liceo D
16/02/08 FC Barcelona 5 v 3 Follonica Hockey A
16/02/08 C Pati Vilanova 5 v 0 RHC Wimmis A
16/02/08 C Pati Vic 21 v 1 Herne Bay United B
16/02/08 FC Porto 10 v 1 Hockey Prato B
16/02/08 RSC Cronenberg 0 v 5 Candelaria SC C
16/02/08 Igualada HC 1 v 1 Reus Deportiu C
16/02/08 HC Liceo 3 v 1 C Esportiu Noia D
16/02/08 OC Barcelos 4 v 2 Bassano Hockey D
15/03/08 RHC Wimmis 5 v 9 Follonica Hockey A
15/03/08 FC Barcelona 8 v 3 C Pati Vilanova A
15/03/08 Hockey Prato 4 v 4 Herne Bay United B
15/03/08 C Pati Vic 4 v 0 FC Porto B
15/03/08 Reus Deportiu 6 v 2 Candelaria SC C
15/03/08 RSC Cronenberg 2 v 4 Igualada HC C
15/03/08 Bassano Hockey 4 v 4 C Esportiu Noia D
15/03/08 HC Liceo 1 v 0 OC Barcelos D
10/05/08 HC Liceo 1 v 2 Reus Deportiu Semi 1
10/05/08 C Pati Vic 1 v 2 FC Barcelona Semi 2
11/05/08 Reus Deportiu 2 v 5 FC Barcelona Final

Congratulations to FC Barcelona who won the 2008 European League.

European Squad

The following fifteen players have been named in the European League squad:

Goalkeepers: Dan Barton, David Garlick, Paul Nelson

Players: Neil Austin, Brendan Barker, Matt Barton, Nick Barton, Chris Espejo, Nic Espejo, Joe Fidock, Simon Hosking, Dendy Hudson, Sam Jackson, Phil McVey, Karl Smith

Home matches

Home matches will take place at the Pier Pavillion. As well as the European League match we also hope to have one of our younger teams playing a match as well as other entertainment. Kings Catering will be providing a bar for these matches in the Pier cafe.

Tickets are £4 for adults, £2.50 for children, or you can buy a ticket for all three home matches for £10 for adults and £6 for children. Tickets are available from Aileen or at the Pier.

If you would like to place an advertisement in the match programme this can be done through Simon Hosking.

Banners for the rink side netting can be booked through David at Lifestyle Signs on 01227 369444 or Aileen/Simon.

HBU v FC Porto

Last 'home' fixture in the European League is on Jan 19th. HBU face the mighty FC PORTO.

Their team list features the world's No 1 goalkeeper, Edo Bosch, and top class players Reinaldo VENTURA and Filipe SANTOS(capt), Ricardo Oliveira'CAIO', Ricardo FIGUEIRO, Pedro MOREIRA, Andre AZEVEDO, Jorge SILVA, Emanuel GARCIA, and 2nd 'keeper Nelson FILIPE.A team of this quality is never going to be in the UK except for such a competition as this Euro League so every player and ex-player, who wants to see the best hockey players in action should make sure they do not miss this opportunity. It may never happen again!

At each of these 'home' games there has been a Raffle. At the 1st match it was 2 sets of HBU team strip, at the last game it was Mirko Bertolucci's shirt and this time it is a FC Porto shirt (current model) and the winner will be presented with it by one of the FCP team just before the 2nd half begins. The Prato Team and now FC Porto generously donated these items as a contribution to the enormous costs the HBU Team have had to find to compete in the competition. Tickets for the Raffle are £1 and to attend the game, if you didn't take advantage of the 3 match discount, is £4 and £2.50. There will be a Bar in the Cafe area too, so please support that and do not 'bring your own'.

The HBU team know what they are going to be facing because they met them in the 1st game of the competition and lost by 20 - 1. Encouraged by the results of the next 2 games, Vic losing 0 - 14 and their much closer result v Prato 2 - 3, will be determined to do much better in this return match.

Next month the HBU team go to Spain for the 2nd Vic match with the final chance to make their mark in Italy v Prato in March. After everyone has played their 6 matches only the team at the top of each Pool goes forward to the Final Four Tournament which will be held on 10/11 May. We would love to host that event but the costs are unbelievable and a stadium of 1000+ is required!

This Jan 19th match will show what the sport of Roller Hockey is - a fast, skilful, exciting game which is hugely entertaining and at times thrilling. With a sellout crowd the Pavilion has a great atmosphere - come and be part of it! Bring your horns, hooters, drums etc and make it even better. Marvel at the individual talents on show and appreciate the best you will ever see in England.

HBU v Hockey Prato

HBU 2 - HC Prato 3. So close!

The crowd at the Vic game last month were frustrated that they could not cheer a goal, well this time they got do it twice. The HBU players raised their play level and certainly had as much if not more possession than the Italians. They also had many chances that just missed, were saved or pinged off the posts and they probably feel a bit disappointed not to have taken the match.

Christmas 'dos' kept some people from attending so the numbers were down on the previous event but still around 300. They were rewarded with an exciting evenly balanced game which at no time was one sided.

It was reffed very efficiently and fairly by the two Spanish referees, Francisco Garcia and Teresa Martinez, who were both making their 1st visit to the UK. They expressed their pleasure at being in the Herne Bay Pavilion known to them as the traditional 'home' of Roller Hockey.

Once again the programme contained a match between HBU & Herne Bay, this time the turn of the Under 13's which was followed by a return visit by popular demand of the superb Da Capo Dance Troupe.

At half-time the draw for the Mirko Bertolucci No 8 Shirt was made by the Director of the Prato team who had donated it to support HBU's Euro League Fund Appeal. It was won by a member of the McVey family.

Keith Allen, NRHA President, set up the monthly Draw for the NRHA 600 Club for 150. HBU's young player Charley Bassom, wearing the HBU Senior team shirt she won at the Vic game, drew the winning number-29- which belonged to Aileen,(me) and which I immediately promised would go into the Euro Fund.

With the 2nd appearance of HBU Hockey on TV last Friday the profile of Roller Hockey will rise again this week with good Press coverage of the excellent result of this match. Everyone who saw the game on Saturday left feeling excited by what they had seen and will talk about it at work and whenever they can we hope.

HBU v C Pati Vic

It was a good night for Roller Hockey in Herne Bay.

We were disappointed with the final total though the loss was not unexpected!

Others will report on the technicalities of the play but I will say the support for the sport was clear. We had over 400 watching the match enthusiastically noisy throughout. This message is important because we are going to lose this venue and its planned replacement is on the outskirts of the town. The impact of that on the sport will be be reflected when events like this will be held. Those involved in the sport are worried and not 100% convinced it will be a good move.

The match - plus points: having a Bar on site in a prominent site (supplied by Kings Caters); a Under 11s match with both teams from HBU: high quality Dance Troupe entertainment: £1000 Guitar Raffle Draw: Two 1st Team Replica Kits, home & away Raffle: Reasonable Admission fee with the offer of a discount for 3 match package; HBU Team playing well and never giving up; high class opposition demonstrating the skill of the sport This all made for a good atmosphere - something the Pavilion lends itself to very well.

Negative points - HBU not ever likely to cause an upset against seasoned professionals inspite of their best efforts. 2 hours training a week is not enough and unfortunately insufficient domestic competiton to help prepare for matches like this; little Press attendance (coverage in papers will be good though) ITV Meridian may be in attendance for the other games and they did good item on Friday evening news programme; The hard work of setting up such an evening knowing it HAS to be successfull so the team can fulfill their obligations for the next 4 matches two of which are in Spain and Italy!

Support in the way of equally good spectator numbers is essential and the next opportunity is on SAT 15th DECEMBER against Italian side HC PRATO. This side has on its team sheet Enrico Bernadini and Matteo Crudelli who were both in the Novara team who came to the Pier in 1999 when HBU were last in the Group stages of the Champions League as it was then called. This team are not quite in the class of Vic or Porto but no easy ride either so a different game is envisaged. FC PORTO on 19th JANUARY will be the final 'Home' match before the team go to Vic and Prato in Feb & March.

You have seen the Spanish now come back for the Italians in a months time and the Portuguese in the New Year!

The HBU Team says a loud THANK YOU (esp those travelling from as far afield as Grimsby etc), see you soon and we will try even harder next time!

PLEASE put these dates in your diary and help HBU continue their campaign to raise the profile of the sport of RH and convince the local council that they and it are deserving of support.

Fundraising

The cost of the European campaign is expected to be around £10,000. The club would like to thank Crown Imperial, The Pier management (Active Life), Icom, Procom, Federal, Beartone, Id Hairdressing, Whitstable and Herne Bay Lions and Town Centre Management for their support and sponsorship but we need to do more! Win a guitar from Mac's music store

Raffles

The first raffle draws took place at our home match against C Pati Vic. Well done to Evelynn Ashdown who won the Beartone guitar and to Charley Bassom and Joe Upton who each won a first team kit.

At the Hockey Prato match we raffled a Hockey Prato team kit worn by Mirko Bertolucci. This was won by a member of the McVey family.

For the FC Porto match we had a replica shirt as the raffle prize and the lucky winner was Brendan Barker.

End of Season Celebration Party

The celebration garden party held on Saturday 28 July was a great success. The rain held off for most of the evening and around two hundred people enjoyed the barbecue and disco. Fantastic live music was provided by Mac's Diner, as well as a superb set from Toby Barelli. Two paintings were also auctioned raising £120. The final total for the whole evening was £870 so well done everyone. Rumours are that this party was such a success that there could be something similar next year....

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