Tower and Town, October 2026 (view the full edition)View From The ChairAfter over 125 years, the club is used to change, which is just as well because this season the West league structure has changed, creating some imbalance and travelling for our teams, but making it more exciting, with some new opposition, pitches and teas to encounter. The senior men's sides have new captains. However, it won't feel much different in many ways - Ed Gosling captaining the 1sts has been playing at Marlborough since he was a youngster, encouraged by his dad, Nick, who's played for Marlborough for decades and they both farm locally. New 2nds Captain, Josh Franklin has also come up through our junior ranks as our thriving junior section continues to provide players to the senior teams. There's also the excitement of a new men's coach in Ed Whitworth. Ed has coached the ladies' first team for a number of years and now becomes player/coach for the men. Ed teaches PE at Marlborough College and previously captained Bath Buccs 1st team and so will bring a new level to the club. There is less change on the ladies' side, with the first team captained again by Loz Edd and the seconds captained by Emma Davies, and no change in the coaching team of Ed Whitworth and Ed Kendall. However, the ladies have had a more significant league restructure with the 1sts encountering some new opposition, and the 2nds in a smaller league, having to play each opposition 3 times. We are immensely proud of our junior section with dozens of volunteer coaches, parents and young adults encouraging over 250 children on a Sunday morning to get active and enjoy themselves. Our organisers do an amazing job every year and we are very thankful to all of them, especially Charlotte Dines who takes over leading the team this year. Finally, I am immensely grateful to Louisa Gosling, our outgoing chair. Louisa's previous career in the army has clearly refined her natural organising skills and she leaves her role with the club in a great place - and big shoes for me to fill. https://www.marlborough-hockey.org.uk/contact will@hodgeonline.co.uk Will Hodge<br>Chair |