User:Colombians/Colombians Hockey

Colombians Hockey
Colombians Hockey Club are a mens field hockey club competing in the Guernsey Hockeyleagues in the Channel Island of Guernsey. The club have 2 mens teams competing in the 2 divisions currently running.

Club History
Colombians emerged from the ashes of the "Drunken Ducks", a team set up by a group of players from the second team of "Beavers" in 1997. For 2 seasons the Drunken Ducks played in Division 1 with little success depsite having an ex Ireland under 21 playing for them.

In time for the start of the 1999 season the Drunken Ducks signed more younger players and changed their name to the "Bullets" and their fortunes began to change as results began to come their way. It was at the end of the 1999/2000 season that they changed their name to Colombians and entered the infamous Guernsey Hockey Easter Festival. Despite getting heavily into the spirit of things including drinking a bar out of Smirnoff Ice the team placed second overall.

The 2000/01 season was another step in the right direction for Colombians Hockey as they began to get more results and other teams began to take more notice. By the end of the season the team had come third.

The 2001/02 season saw Colombians pick up a new sponsor in the form of La Collinette Hotel and with the upward trend seen over the last few years more players were signed, this enabled the birth of the 2nd XI who would compete in Divison 2 and provide a stepping stone for younger players to come into the game as well as a gentle way out for the ageing players, a system that is still in use today. This new 2nd XI team cruised to the league title in their first season winning all but one match (which was drawn). Continuing the momentum the 1st XI team improved yet again and placed second in the 1st division, their highest placing so far.

Going into the 2002/2003 season many expected the Colombians to continue their climb to the top. Much was talked about in the bars after matches and the pressure mounted on a team that had only a few years ago been merely a social side. That season the players surrounded by pressure from outside strolled to victory to win Division 1 for the first time. In the same season the 2nd XI retained their league thanks to a last second goal against the "Vets" title thus giving the club a Division 1 and 2 double.

As part of the Division 1 victory the team travelled to the other Channel Island of Jersey to play the winners of their league in what is known as the "Upton". Despite some controverisal umpiring the Colombians stormed to victory to secure the League and Upton double.

The 2002/2003 season saw all local hockey pundits predicting the Colombians would fulfill their destiny and finally take the Division One crown. The players, undaunted by the pressure placed on them by their favorites tag, succeeded in overcoming all opposition and claiming the title. The Upton trophy was soon to come the Colombians way following an almighty battle against crapauds, umpires, the devil and all his minions, and the night on the town in St Helier that followed will live long in the memory of those that can remember it.

The 2003/04 season was the pinnacle moment for the young club. The 2 mens teams won their respective leagues and cup competitions in Guernsey as well as retaining the Upton trophy, a record that is still to be broken. It was this achievement that earned them a nomination for the "Sports Council Team of the Year Award", which despite their mammoth heroics over the previous years saw them lose out.

Club Success
Guernsey Men's 1st Division Champions 2002/3, 2003/4, 2004/5, 2005/6 Guernsey Men's Cup Champions 2003/4, 2005/6 Channel Island Club Champions 2003 Upton Trophy Champions 2003

Guernsey Men's 2nd Division Champions 2001/2, 2002/3, 2003/4 Guernsey Men's Knockout Trophy 2003/4

Current Players
Current players registered in Division 1:


 * Kees Jager (GK)
 * Luke Jager
 * Jan Collins
 * Tristan Cairns
 * Reg Radford
 * Liam Roffey
 * Will Bisson
 * Tim Creasey
 * Phil Radford
 * Matt Watson *(Cap)
 * TJ Ozanne
 * Adam Cox
 * Rupert Iles
 * Matt de la Mare

Current players registered in Division 2:


 * Jake le Marchant (GK)
 * Stu Malley (GK)
 * Nathan Hodder
 * Justin Jager
 * Mark Oliphant
 * Guy Mallett
 * Richard Spurrier
 * Richard Collenette
 * John Donnelly
 * Stuart Holland
 * Dan Tall *(Cap)
 * Samir Doshi
 * Matt Keyho
 * Ash Northgrave
 * Nick Dunn
 * Jez Stubbs
 * Jordan Smith
 * Chris Gill
 * Matt Elston
 * Chris Colmer

Also part of the Colombian squad though currently unavailable:


 * Mark Ball
 * Matt Gilligan
 * Scott Ingrouille
 * Chris Harvey
 * Emilie Thompson
 * Jonny Warr
 * Jon Guille
 * Andy Dawson Ball

Colombians Cricket
2002 saw Colombians branch out into Cricket. This was to give the players an excuse to remain both pitch and bar fitness during the summer break from hockey.

2009 saw the formation of a 2nd XI cricket team due to their continued success, in a similar fashion to the hockey. The season of 2009 ended with the 1st XI team winning every fixture and thus securing promotion to Division 2 of the Guernsey Cricket evening league. The 2nd XI placed third in their first season in Division 5.

Sponsors
Colombians Hockey and Colombians Cricket are currently sponsored by Investec