April 2006 - Ladies 2's promoted to Division 3 of the trysports league.

April 2006 - Men's 1's promoted.

 

July '05 - a new astro was laid down

 

Sad News

Tribute to Gill Scott (nee Deverson) Aug 1959 - December 2006 Bracknell HC from 1977-2006.

In early January, family, friends and colleagues gathered to say goodbye to Gill, who sadly passed away after a brave fight against cancer. It was a measure of the regard, love and respect in which Gill was held to see so many people at the service at Easthampstead Park Crematorium.

Gill was a well-known figure at Bracknell Hockey Club, having started her hockey career when still a teenager with the then Royal Ascot Ladies in the late 1970s. She helped to steer the Club through amalgamation with Ringwood and Gyros mixed clubs and Bracknell Men in the late 1980s and continued to play for and help to run Bracknell Hockey Club until recently. Despite her recent illness she still came to the Club and supported the teams when she felt able. In her early playing days, she was easily recognisable by her 'John McEnroe' style headband, dark curly hair and her habit of leaning on her stick. She fooled many defenders into thinking she was no threat but time and again she proved what a skilful centre forward she was, scoring goal after goal. She remained top goal scorer for more than 15 years, which gives a real indication of how special she was.

Over the years Gill often volunteered to drive her team members to matches, but one thing she did have a little trouble with was directions - her car load would be subjected to the "back doubles", usually getting there but by some peculiar routes! On one memorable occasion when holidaying in the USA with Carolyn Wilson, the intrepid pair stopped a local for directions, totally confused him with their English pronunciation and finally fell into hysterics when they realised that they were actually sitting in the car park of the Hotel they were looking for!

During the 1980s, Gill was a regular member of the Berkshire County 1st XI and Southern Counties B when representative hockey in the South was very strong. She helped Berkshire win several South Championships, playing alongside several of her Bracknell team mates and internationals such as Pauline Gibbon (GB GK) and Katie Dodd (England Indoor Captain). She was also in great demand by the men of the Ringwood mixed side - they always wanted her to play because she scored goals. In fact, one of the guys was keener than most, love blossomed and happily, Gill married David Scott in August 1991.

In addition to hockey, Gill could turn her hand to most sports - cricket, football, skiing and tennis to name a few but she was not just known for her sporting skill. Gill was an efficient, no-nonsense organiser who had an innate ability to persuade and cajole others into helping her to get things done. She held the Ladies Section Secretary role for over 14 years and for 5 of those years was Club Secretary as well. Together with good friend and team mate Deb Jackson, she wrote and ran a number of excellent quizzes which raised funds to pay for coaching in the Ladies section and brought the Club together socially. Over the same period, she also took on a series of roles on the County Hockey Management Committee, starting out as Indoor Secretary and moving through to Treasurer and ultimately, Berkshire President.

In the early 1990s when Bracknell Ladies 1st squad qualified for the Typhoo National League, Gill, as ever, was instrumental in assisting in the Club's success, playing and scoring goals for the 1st squad and then captaining a very strong 1A side who, subsequently, moved up to the South League. In and amongst this, Gill found time to increase her family. Thomas arrived in 1993 followed by Peter in 1997 and she still had enough energy to take on Ladies Club Captain for 3 years! In 2002, Gill and her family were all set to move away from Bracknell as David had been offered a job in Wells, Somerset but after Gill was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and the family decided to stay in Bracknell. Gill bore her treatment stoically, still keeping a keen interest in Club affairs and was soon well enough to return to playing, this time showing her versatility in the defence. Now playing Ladies Veterans as well as League, Gill notched up another success in 2004 when, after 9 years as Berkshire Vets Champions, the side finally won the South Championship and went on to lift the National Vets title at the first attempt! At the start of 2004/2005, the Ladies Section was in crisis due to losing a whole team of players, mainly from the first team. Gill returned as Ladies Section Captain to steady the ship and begin the re-building process which continues today. Sadly, Gill fell ill again. As with everything in her life, she approached her illness with great practicality and courage but on this occasion, it was a battle she could not win.

Gill will be greatly missed by family, friends and team mates. Her massive contribution to Bracknell Hockey Club will live on in our memories and she will always be remembered with great respect and affection by everyone. Our sympathy and best wishes go to David, Thomas, Peter and family.

Libby Mound