Footscray Hockey Club

Get Well Alby Speed
Our stalwart grounds manager (Alby Speed) is now recovering from a bout with the surgeons after not feeling well while working down the ground two weeks ago, Alby took himself home and then went to Hospital were he had major surgery to solve some Heart issues. Word is he is sitting back enjoying the Olympics with no interruptions and progressing well.

Good luck for the last 3 games
On a happier note with 3 rounds to go the club have numerous Junior and Senior teams sitting in top four and getting ready to contest finals, best of luck to all those players, Coaches and Managers.

Ground Update
While I was in Darwin at the veterans national championships James Merlino the sports minister visited our complex to announce the $275,000 State Government grant for the upgrading of both fields and the hit up area at the rear of the clubrooms, this with the grant from Footscray Council and our own input of money gives us the funds to progress with the upgrades. From memory this has been in the pipe line for at least 6 years and has taken a lot of hard work by the grounds committee to finally get the funding together to start work. At present we are at the tendering stage in the process and hope to have the sand ground and the hit up area finished around Christmas, with the wet turf replaced at the end of next season.

Hosting Vets Championships 2009
The timing of the wet field upgrade will be dependent on discussions I am having with Hockey Australia, Hockey Victoria and the Australian Veterans Hockey Council. As the Victorian State Veterans delegate and also the Australian Veterans Championship Co-ordinator it is my responsibility to organise next years championships in Melbourne. This entails teams from all states and territories and from 55 to 70 teams competing over a 2 week period with Footscray’s complex being in the running to be the main host to this huge event. Eight games on each field per day will need to be played to enable the running of this championship with overflow games being played at the SNHC.

Thanks
To the parents and players who have helped with the country week long week – end, multiply that event by 3 times the people and take it over 13 days, it is the largest national hockey event held in Australia. Please keep this in mind when we call for volunteers, date at present is still being negotiated but will be at the end of the 2009 season.

Good luck to all teams participating in finals. Yours in Hockey

Next year if FHC’s Commemorative year. A 75th Commemorative Committee is being established and we will be holding our first meeting next week. If you are interested in being apart of this committee or have any brilliant ideas. Please contact Nicole on 0424132715 nicolevirtuoso@hotmail.com for further details.

Congratulations to Brent and Midi Cosgriff who are expecting their second baby!!!

It is with deepest sympathies that FHC learnt of Andrew Bettiol’s passing two weeks ago. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fiona and their 4 daughters during this difficult time. Betts was a most loyal and respected club member, volunteer, coach and player. He had joined in 1977, over 30 year member and played 582 games. In 2007 the club was thrilled that he put his hand up to take on the enormous job of Men’s Administrator. His biggest legacy includes re-igniting the spark in the lower grade men’s teams by establishing training and support to juniors and the triumphant 4 – 4 draw in the rd 18 SL2 2007 game in Albury to save relegation. The attendance from FHC members at the funeral was tremendous and showed how much he touched us all. Betts’ smile and good humour will be sincerely missed by all members. Thank you to those FHC members who have supported the Bettiol Family during this difficult time.