I was surprised, to say the least, to receive an invitation from the webmaster to be the next candidate for ‘up close with’. Wondering why me … so here goes.

SCHOOL DAYS

My earliest hockey memory is 1st year at Belfast High, when Mrs McNutt asked me why I didn’t come to Saturday morning hockey. She looked a little shocked when I told her I couldn’t train because I worked on a Saturday. Now, picture the scene, an 11 year old girl working all day Saturday, I’m sure Mrs McNutt was about to call in Social Services. However she relaxed somewhat when I explained that I worked for my parents in the Cavalier Restaurant. So it was serving pasty suppers rather than serving the right wing for me from then on!

I wasn’t completely inactive whilst at School though. I took a keen interest in athletics (a highlight was beating Bridget Snaith for the high jump) and swimming (not drowning whilst doing the butterfly was good). Outside of school, my mum made sure I attended Joymount Girls Brigade where PE competitions sharpened my team spirit.

JOINING GREENISLAND

So how did I end up at Greenisland Ladies you ask? Leaving school, I continued to swim for the Alliance Club and dabbled with aerobics, step classes and the like. However the competition to turn up at aerobics in full make-up and matching leotards was fierce and got the better of me. Moaning about this to my cousin, Heather Clarke, she suggested I come to her hockey club. So in the summer of 1992, the prehistoric hockey stick was dug out from my folks house (funny how they never throw anything away?!?) and Barbra made her way to the school pitches at Carrick only to walk into a High School reunion.

My lack of school hockey was evident but ‘Queen of the Frantic Anns’ Lesley Stewart persevered, teaching me the rules along the way. My favourite was her defensive tactical call of ‘STEP’ to play the opposition off-side – yes it was so long ago there was offside!

No sooner had I paid my fees, I discovered baby Webber was scheduled to make his arrival in July 1993. So the stick went back in the cupboard for a while. By mid-Oct 93 I was keen to get back to playing, however, with a husband working away, my eternal thanks go to my family for babysitting Iain all those Saturday afternoons. Hockey is such a great stress reliever and the camaraderie amongst the girls is fantastic.

GOOD MEMORIES

From a player’s point of view my personal highlight was being awarded the 3rd XI Player of the Year in 2000-01. All of Lesley’s tuition was rewarded! Initially playing right back, I moved to central defence in 2001-02 to partner Anna Pickering on the 2nd XI. That was a great season also, ending with the 2nd squad gaining promotion.

But time marches on. In 2002 I turned 35 and was eligible (read old enough) to play for the Veterans. Well this was a whole different kind of hockey. Hot port instead of oranges at half-time, sandwiches and drinkies afterwards – just the job. Perhaps my most memorable Vets moment was scoring my first goal. Being one of the younger Vets with functioning lungs, I had to play right midfield. Fortified by half-time hot port, our team made a break, with Norma Montgomery passing a great diagonal ball to me. I surprised myself by beating the Ballyclare sweeper and then surprised myself even more by scooping the ball over the keeper’s foot and scoring. My celebration was memorable and those of you who know me well know how that story ends.

Injury forced me out of the game late in 2003-04 season. Come the next season, the Club experienced a severe shortage of keepers and I was persuaded to don a keeper kit. What I didn’t know was that I’d be playing on the 2nd XI once more. Respect to keepers is all I say. Each match my emotions ranged from abject fear to absolute elation with not many feelings in the mid-range. Great encouragement from 1st XI keeper, Ruth Hewitt and coach Andy Edwards kept me in keeper kit for the season. Fully recovered by the end of the season, I was only too glad to pass the kit over to upcoming keepers, Sara Douglas and Erin McGarry.

BEHIND THE SCENES

2005-06 season saw a lot of change. I moved back to playing defence and also became the Club’s Chairperson. I’d held various Committee posts over the years, and served on GWMSC Committee so I had a good overview of how it all worked. What I wasn’t told was how much time and effort it took to make it all work – and people wonder why I work part-time!

There is a great ‘engine’ behind the scenes at Greenisland Ladies. When players turn out on a Saturday, I wonder if they realise how they all happen to be at the same place, at the same time (hopefully wearing the same socks) and with an opposing team to play. We have 5 League teams, a Vets team and a thriving Junior section and U14 team. This would not be possible without the dedication and expertise of our Committee, Coaches, Umpires and Webmaster – so the next time you meet one of them, please take time out to say thanks.

I was asked about my ambitions for season. Personally, I’ll keep taking the glucosamine supplements and play for as long as my knees will allow.

From a Chairperson’s perspective, I’d love to see two things: that the pitch development gets underway and that the 1st XI remains in Senior 1. The latter looks very achievable. Our 1st XI was promoted into Ulster’s Top 20 in 2007-08. Now midway through the season, I’m very pleased to say that the team is comfortably mid-table and barring major disaster should remain in Senior 1. The pitch development continues to make slow but steady progress. An application has been submitted by GWMSC to Planning to upgrade playing facilities and build a synthetic pitch at grounds at the rear of the Clubhouse. It is expected that the Management Committee of GWMSC will release further information in the New Year regarding a commencement date for the start of works.

It ought to go without saying that I hope Greenisland Ladies continue to thrive and attract players. I have always enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and healthy competitiveness displayed during matches and the post-match commentary sometimes has to be heard to be believed.

I hope everyone has a great 2008 – both on and off the pitch.