Northern United Junior Hockey Club

Northern History | History

 

The 2000 Sydney Olympics saw a huge increase in interest from local school children in playing Hockey.

Northern United saw it's Junior numbers more than double in 2001 and this bought with it a massive workload to organise and equip all the new teams ready for the start of play.

Thanks to the generosity of the Johnsonville Licensing trust and now defunct Hilary Commission the day before games started we received playing shirts and gear.

After a coordinated fundraising effort we also saw our Boys and Girls A Primary Teams kitted out in new tracksuits proudly displaying the Northern United name.

In 2001 we proudly saw our Primary A girls team take out the Wellington Girls P1 title after an outstanding season.

2002, 2003 and 2004 saw us continue to grow recording a 15% increase in playing numbers each year. This increase was a positive sign that we were doings things right and introducing more and more children to the world of Hockey.

2004 saw Northern United Juniors have 6 eleven a-side teams playing for the first time in many years, with both our A Boys and A Girls teams playing in their respective P1 competitions.

Early on the Juniors who were severely hampered by the lack of available Hockey facilities in the area sought to establish their own training facility.

In January 2004 after several years hard work and fundraising we laid an Astrograss sand based surface at the courts of the Newlands Paparangi Tennis club.

The Junior Club sub leases the facility and is the major user from 1 April to 1 October each year with the Tennis Club being the major user from 1 October to 1 April.

This facility has produced huge benefits for not only Northern United Juniors but Players from surrounding schools and suburbs.

We are very proud of the relationship we have with the Tennis Club, it has seen membership of both clubs grow and places us well for the future.

We look forward to the years ahead as we build on the links we have re-established with all the local schools to drive the growth of Junior Hockey in the Northern Suburbs and build a solid base for the Senior Club.

We note with some sadness the passing of a real club Stalwart, Alan Clarke. Alan was pivotal in coordinating and looking after the Juniors for many years prior to 2001.

Gentleman Alan was always willing to give a helping hand, he was Convenor and coached many of the young players over the years. A large contingent of Junior players formed a guard of honour while dressed in Northern United Colours at his Funeral.

Written by Gavin Naftel.

 

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