HNNL February 2003 page 4

HNNL February 2003 page 4 The Hook Norton Village Newsletter

February 2003

Series 28 No 1

Sports and Social

HOOK NORTON AND NORTH WEST CHERWELL SPORTS AND RECREATION PROJECT UPDATE
As reported in the December 2002 Newsletter, the Project proposals required review following the refusal of planning permission for football pitch floodlights and spectator facilities. The Project Committee considered all current aspects of the project and at it's December meeting decided that the priority now is to move forward on the elements for which planning permission has been granted.
This decision was supported by all the sections, but was not taken lightly on account of the impact on the Sports and Social Club and on the Senior Football Club in particular. Loss of the First Team restricts the availability of capital funding and creates a pressure on future revenue generation to support the facilities. The Project committee wish every success to the First Team as they now review, independently of the Project, their future in Hook Norton.
Following support from the Parish Council at it's December meeting
Hook Norton Parish Council Minute 8;“'…Councillor Barry said that he hoped the concept of providing good sports facilities for the village would be taken up by the Sports and Social Club with as much energy as it had used up till now and that the Parish council would give them full support and encouragement in this.” This was agreed.
The Project committee have now presented the revised proposals to Sport England and received full support to progress with a modified scheme. The Committee is therefore now putting the final aspects of a comprehensive Development Plan together to support a bid to Sport England for £469,000 towards a new 2 changing room sports and community pavilion including social facilities, three new floodlit tennis courts, a new grass football pitch, a floodlit multi use games area for basketball, netball, short tennis, hockey, five a side football and training. The development proposals have had to be scaled down in terms of the size of the pavilion and the extent of additional car parking as a direct result of loss of capital funding accessible only through grants available to the First Football Team.
It is hoped that funding decisions will be received by March and plans are being established to consider start on site in mid-year.
As always, full details of the project, plans and minutes of meetings are available in the Library should anybody wish to view any of the information.

Project Committee

HOOK NORTON SPORTS & RECREATION PROJECT
Following the refusal of planning permission for the adult football club aspects of the project, work on the remaining elements, including junior football, will be started in 2003.

Details about the proposed design of the Sports and Social Club building, which has been amended in light of the above refusal, will be available and will be advertised shortly.
The aim of this project throughout has been to provide improved facilities which will benefit the entire community and, in particular, the young people of this area. Please support this project through the Bond Scheme (forms available at the library).
Other opportunities to give your support through the Buy a Brick and Sponsor a Tree schemes will be launched soon. For full up to date details see the project Folder at Hook Norton library.

D. Weaver

HOOK NORTON JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB

Hook Norton Junior Football Club are now over halfway through their season and all our 7 League teams and Minis section have something to smile about and have had a lot of fun:
Our Minis section is shortly to be getting a new kit, kindly sponsored by Bibby Factors, through one of the parents. The Minis section is for boys & girls aged 6 or 7 and they meet every Saturday at the Sports & Social for a fun kick around and also arrange the occasional friendly game against other villages. This is a very popular section, with 23 boys and girls currently registered, a bright future for our Junior Club!
The Under 8's team is our newest, youngest team this season, having been in the Minis Section last season. This team is for boys & girls aged 8 this school year. We have a full squad of 14, which is the maximum the Witney League will permit. They play in the "Friendly" North Oxfordshire League and are really starting to get the team together now, having achieved their first win and a draw at Deddington and Enstone respectively, during November.
The Under 9's team play in the 'B' division of the Under 9's Witney League, there are 3 divisions in this age group. They finished for the Christmas break with their first win so far, at home to Deddington, having also drawn 3 of their previous games. We've got 1 spare place in this team for a girl or boy who will be 9 this school year.
The Under 10's are mid-table in the Under 10's 'B' division, having won 4 of their games and drawn 2. They narrowly lost out in their last game, in a real thriller against Carterton, which finished Hook Norton 3 Carterton 4. Again, we've got 1 spare place in this team for a girl or boy who will be 10 this school year.
The Under 11's team play in the 'B' division, but could well be on their way up to the 'A' division next season. Only Evenlode Rangers have managed to beat Hooky Under 11's so far, with a close 2-1 scoreline, in their last game and they are currently top of this table. Hooky Under 11's have scored 40 goals and only let in 9 so far, a terrific record.
The Under 13's team are playing this season in the 'top flight' A division of the Under 13's League. Whilst they are struggling a little in this division, we are all very pleased that they notched up their first win in their last game before Christmas against Kingham Juniors. Hopefully there's more of this to come in the New Year. Good luck boys!
The Under 15's team play in the 'B' division of their League and have a great record, having won 6 of their 8 games so far and only lost once - to top placed Banbury, in a narrow 2-1 defeat. On that day Hooky only had a total of 9 players against Banbury's 11! Hooky Under 15's have scored 36 goals and only let in 7. Promotion candidates for sure!
The Under 16's team play in an Oxfordshire Invitation League for this age group, in the 'C' division. They are currently mid-table having achieved a couple of good victories against Garden City and Kennington.
All in all, there are now 125 boys and girls involved with Hook Norton Junior Football Club. Thanks to all the Managers and Officials involved with the club for all your hard work and commitment. Thanks also to the parents for supporting your children's involvement in football. If anyone would like to come along and watch our home games, there are always some going on every Saturday and Sunday at the Sports & Social. If you would like to make contact with our club, please feel free to contact me in the first instance. Don't forget that all these details and more are available on-line at http://www.hnjfc.co.uk/ Come on Hooky!

Jon.Thompson

HOOK NORTON FOOTBALL CLUB
When my contribution was written for the previous edition of this Newsletter, there seemed to be a mood of mild disappointment within the Club, not least, I suspect, because of the First Team's rather modest start in the Premier Division of the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League.

Since that time, and with the season now beyond the halfway stage, that mild disappointment has undoubtedly been swept away, replaced instead by a distinct air of genuine optimism for the Team's prospects for the remainder of the season. Indeed, at the time of writing, the Team is nicely placed in 10^th position and has every reason to be confident, not only of maintaining that position but also, hopefully, of improving upon it by the time that early May comes along. If that situation occurs, then the Club and the Village also should be justly proud of such an achievement that has brought about much, joy, excitement and interest to so many people in Hooky and around. In this respect, great credit and praise should be extended to Manager Dave Risato, his assistants and, of course, to the players; they and, indeed, all of us within the Club have been
on a very steep learning curve in endeavouring to stage football at this high level but, I believe, we are now beginning to 'see daylight' and things will only get better still.
Thanks in no small measure are due also to our many loyal supporters, including those who, for various reasons, are unable to attend our matches.

Their constant help and encouragement are hugely appreciated by all at the Club and serve as an inspiration to strive for greater achievements to enhance, even further, the prestige of the Club and the Village; the traditions of which are intertwined and have developed in partnership for in excess of 100 years.
The success of the Football Club should be measured not only by the achievements of its First Team but also by the contributions of its Second Team, not forgetting also those of the various junior football teams, for which Hook Norton is significantly the focus for this area. It is acknowledged within the Club that the existence of junior football within the Village is not only important for its relevance in channelling youthful energy, endeavour and enthusiasm in a healthy and socially acceptable direction, but also for the stage it provides to identify and nurture talent before, hopefully, developing it to the needs of Hooky's senior teams. At the time of writing, I am delighted to report that our Second Team sits proudly at the top of Division 2(West) of the Reserve Section of the Hellenic League and, accordingly, many congratulations should be extended to Manager Adrian White and his assistants, and not least to the players themselves. Keep up the good work, lads and who knows, we may have yet a further Championship to add to the Club's silverware cupboard!
In finalising this article, I feel bound to say that I have been greatly encouraged by the level of support which obviously does exist in Hooky and the immediate area for its Football Club and, as such, I never cease to be amazed by the level of interest, shown by a wide spectrum of people of all ages and of both sexes, in the activities and the development of the Club. Accordingly, I have been left in no doubt that Hook Norton Football Club is an important and integral part of the Village's existence; this, to me, is sufficient reason in itself for the Club to aspire to even greater heights and indeed we do! Come on Hooky!

Geoff 'Jesse' James

HOOK NORTON TENNIS CLUB

Calling all players aged 12 to 18…
To accommodate the demand for youth tennis, the Club has arranged for Steve Bone, an LTA qualified coach, to provide coaching to improve tennis skills both competitively and socially. Sessions will take place on the following Sunday afternoons from 3 - 4pm.

19^th January	9^th February	2^nd & 23^rd March
6^th & 27^th April	18^th May	8^th & 29^th June
20^th July

The cost is £3 per session and lessons can be booked directly through Steve on 07127 844250.

	Hook Norton Tennis Club require a part time LTA Qualified Tennis Coach Responsibilities to include: Junior after school and holiday coaching programme Youth and Adult coaching programme Junior development programme implementation
For further details contact Rebecca Watts 01608 730568 or send your C.V. to 8 Old School End, Hook Norton, OX15 5QU. Email watts100@talk21.com