SEASON IS GO!
Welcome back! We hope you’re as excited as we are to kick off a new season. There’s been a lot of hard work over the summer to make sure that this season is another good’un, so buckle up for a bumper edition with all the information you need to get the season going.
Dates for the diary
First games: September 20th (September 13th for W8 + WDev)
Start of season social: September 20th
Slip week: October 25th
Halloween social: November 1st
Christmas social: December 6th
New season checklist
Get your hands on some lush new Wapping x Grays kit at a STEAL (deadline 23:59 tonight!)
Pay your membership fees (deadline 4th October - more info in the last BP here)
Ensure you’ve joined the Wapping community on WhatsApp so you receive all club related announcements and access to all the other groups you might want to get involved with.
Sign up to the Back Post (the club’s email newsletter) to keep abreast of club news and pics.
Treat yourself to some new Grays equipment and get 20% off? (more on this below)
Get involved with Kidds coaching (see below)
Volunteer for one of the remaining committee roles!
New season, new stick?
Along with our fabulous bulk clothing offer, Grays have also offered us 20% off all their equipment! (sticks, bags, shinpads etc)
Code: A_WAPPING20-25
For this code to work and spend be attributed to the club, players must go through the Wapping online store below:
https://www.grays-hockey.com/collections/wapping-hc
Note that this discount can be used throughout the season so something to bear in mind for Chrimbo 🎅🤶
We need you!
There are still a very small number of committee roles outstanding, we are most in need of an Umpire Liaison Officer (someone to coordinate the umpires for games each week), a Social Sec (it’d be mega sad if the socials are no more), and someone to write this newsletter on an ad hoc basis.
All roles can be shared and are a great way of meeting people around the club outside of your team. Please reach out to Irini, our Club Secretary, if you can help.
Wapping Kidds needs volunteer coaches
With the season now close to the start, this is the annual reminder that the Wapping Kidds need your help. For those with an interest in coaching, or keen to see how the junior players have got their talents, or who just want to give back to the club in some way, Wapping Kidds is looking for volunteer coaches to assist in their Friday and Saturday training sessions.
Who is needed: You! No coaching qualification or experience are needed, all sessions are planned and led by experienced coaches.
When: Older juniors (12-18) train Friday 6-7.30, Younger juniors (5-12) train Saturdays 9.30
Where: John Orwell Sports Centre in Wapping
But I play on Saturdays: No problem, if you are able to commit to once or twice a month, that is a big help, most of our coaches are players too and coach when fixtures allow.
Whats in it for me: Other than the joy of seeing young players grow to enjoy your favourite sport, and the knowledge that you have helped them develop new skills and confidence? Helping coaching brings TOTY points for your team and our eternal gratitude.
What do I need: All coaches must be DBS checked and complete a 15 min free online safeguarding course. Otherwise, we suggest a strong coffee, waterproofs and a good sense of humour!
Sign me up! How do I get in touch?: Email Sandra and Amy at wappingkidds@gmail.com or let your captains know.
Free umpiring courses
England Hockey’s new membership model now includes a series of free umpiring courses, a fantastic opportunity for anyone keen to learn more and get involved.
We’re delighted that 7s captain, Rose, has already rallied the W7 squad, with 10+ players signing up for a group booking - huge thanks to them for leading the way! If you or your team mates are interested in joining, check out the course dates here: England Hockey Umpiring Courses.
Coaches all around
We are delighted to share that this season each team will have their own dedicated coach. There are a number of new faces, and a good handful of current members who have taken on the task of coaching a more junior team for the first time this season (thank you Izzy Montgomery, Liv Shears, Emma Spiers, Benji Avro and Joe Chedd), we also see many returning faces in Tara Feeney, Kiran Dhoot, Dom Oliver, As Raif, Mark Dungey, Henry Sewell and Jasper Van Kwawegen. We took onboard feedback from last season whereby some turbulence led to captains having to make decisions around selection and performance, which can be difficult for all involved. The aim is that now with a hands-on coach for each team, they will be able to hold the reins and provide a point of contact for players.
New appointment of Head Coach
If that wasn’t enough, we also welcome Drew Burkin as Women’s 1st XI Head Coach and Men’s 1st XI Player/Coach ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Drew brings a wealth of experience to the club, having coached across a range of age groups and competitive levels, including women’s National League hockey.
As a player, Drew has competed at the highest levels of English hockey for many years, including spells in the Premier Division of the National League. He also proudly represented Wapping’s Men’s 1st XI during their 2019/20 National League campaign.
Club Day success
Club Day was a roaring success featuring a Kidds masterclass in the morning, a mega mixed tournament and a social at The Northcote that went on into the evening. It was fantastic to see so many new faces and so many of our beloved long-term members.
A representative from Grays came down to showcase the new kit and start taking preorders and as such we’ve had a deluge of orders so everyone is going to be looking FINE this season.
A big thanks to our Chair, Helen Rogers, for running the tournament, and James Budgen, Head of Press, for being on hand to photograph the day.
Sponsorship update
Our sponsorship secretaries, Estelle and Steph, did a phenomenal job last season and over the summer. They received grant funding of over £21,000 to fund Wapping Kidds’ sessions for the next year (meaning it’ll now be completely free for all), and to run new community outreach sessions in Tower Hamlets and Newham. These will massively help us with our mission for making sport accessible to all, and removing the financial barriers to participation.
In another touch of brilliance, the squad have onboarded:
E1 Crossfit to sponsor W1, W7 and M8 who provided fab taster sessions over summer and are offering a discount to Wapping members (more on this to come soon), and
Lunaria Partners - a specialist legal recruitment agency with people at the heart of what they do (and a keen interest in supporting sport in Newham) - to sponsor W4 and M4
alongside our fabulous prior sponsors (Simon Wright Jewellery, Savills, Moretown Belle and Feeney’s) who have all committed to longer term sponsorship arrangements, which will be instrumental in budgeting for future seasons and ensuring funds are best utilised in the most effective manner. Please continue to show our sponsors some love, they’re an exceptional bunch.
Short of erecting a statue of the gals at JO, there really is not enough praise in the world for the job they have done. Estelle will stay on in the role, and we thank Steph for all she did last season. If anyone would like to help out, Estelle’s in the market for a second pair of hands to help with grant applications and managing sponsor relations.
Training schedule
Thanks to our fab Fixtures Sec, Eleanor, and VCP, Warren, for putting together the training schedule for the season ahead - no small logistical feat. Make the most of it - come along, get involved, and build strength together on and off the field.
Men’s hockey training
LV - M1 - MON (20:30) + WED (20:00)
LV - M2 - MON (20:30)
LV - M3-4 - THUR (19:00)
LV - M5-6 - TUE (20:30)
JO - M7-8 - TUE (20:30)
Women’s hockey training
LV - W1 - MON (19:00) + WED (19:00)
LV - W2 - WED (19:00)
LV - W3-4 - WED (20:30)
JO - W5-6 - WED (20:30)
JO - W7-8 - MON (20:30)
Back2Hockey (mixed beginner) sessions
JO - EVERY OTHER MON (19:00) more info here
Goalkeepers (mixed) training
LV - EVERY OTHER MON (20:00)
JO - EVERY OTHER MON (19:00)
Member discounts:
Check out our Members' area (Password: whc1989) which has all of our available offers, including:
5% discount and 5% club kick back at the Moretown Belle
A free Psycle session
Grubby: 50% off + free delivery on 1st box, plus 30% off for the rest of the month
