Memories of School Hockey
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The school used to give team critiques on each member of a school team, for everyone to read in the School Magazine. There were positive remarks but these were frequently followed by a negative comment.
1955-56 “Team Criticism” of the 1st XI (below) was written by Mavis Jones, a team member, but her critique was written by “APJ”. Jean Johnson (Cuthew) has written that she and Diana Rowe (Blake) were quite proud of the fact they were the only fifth formers in the first Hockey XI. Diana was exceptionally good and was awarded her colours at the end of the year; they were obviously deserved because she played hockey for another 29 years after leaving School, both with Colchester Ladies and the mixed Colchester Oysters and even had a trial for the County team. Jean also played for Colchester Ladies and the mixed team from Woods of Colchester Ltd. Diana and Jean, who were brought up in the same area of Colchester, have been friends since they started CCHS and their most recent get-together last month was a nostalgic meeting for coffee at Grey Friars!
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RB Diana Blake - a very steady back who combined well with the rest of the defence. Her stickwork
was very good and she cleared the ball well. She well deserves her colours.
LB Brenda Tonkin - she tackled energetically and with enthusiasm, but her play would be improved by
neater stickwork and more speed when chasing her opponent.
RH Judith Brunning - she combined well with her wing, but although she cleared the ball well her
stickwork still needs practice.
CH Malyn Brown - her play was consistently good, and she combined well with the forward line, but at
times she could have used her strong hit to greater effect. (She was also awarded her colours!)
Marion Richardson - she has developed into a far quicker player this season. On the whole she
marks well, and was able to start many attacking movements by her strong hit. (Also awarded her
colours!)
LH Jill Rose - her play has improved this season, she now tackles with determinations and clears the ball
well.
RW Elizabeth Mabbitt - a fast neat wing, who took the rest of the forwards up the field with her, she
should try to play a more attacking game in the circle.
RI June Heppenstall - her play shows much improvement. She had a strong hit, and passed well, but
tended to play in an offside position.
CF Elspeth James - she was capable of scoring very hard goals, but too frequently relied on reverse
stickwork. She played more vigorously as RI at the end of the season.
LI Jean Cuthew - she achieved a good goal score and improved continually throughout the season.
Although her stickwork was good, her play lacked attack.
LW Janice Goff - her stickwork has improved this season. She was a fast wing but tended to put herself
in an offside position.
GK Mavis Jones - a strong and determined player. She cleared the ball aggressively and combined well
with her backs. She showed much improvement from the last season. She has been a most helpful
and efficient captain and in particularly has given up much time to assisting the Colts XI.
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Do we have any news of the other members of the team? And who was AJK?
But more importantly, how many of us even reached the heights of a school team?
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