Litter, protect our environment and be good neighbours

Wildcats Ice-Hockey
Swindon Wildcats v Slough Jets on Saturday 19th February. Adults £6, Child £3. Bookings close 1st February. Reserve your tickets on-line now.

Litter - Please help
I have been notified by our groundsman that some locals have highlighted our activity is polluting the local environment. As a consequence last week he spent some time in the adjacent fields collecting spent drink bottles, coke cans and other litter attributable to our activity. He filled two buckets!

As well as protecting our environment we need to be good neighbours. The local farmer whose fields surround us offers the Club significant support as well as use of his tractor to get the pitch mown. His crops and livestock may be impacted by our activity. We really cannot, and should not, cause him and the residents of Norley Lane inconvenience or cause for concern.

Can I ask that you promote good practice for dealing with litter. Talk to your children, help them understand that litter is their responsibility. It is not acceptable for bottles to be left for the coach to collect and take home. Please take all litter home or put it in the bin. Litter is not only unsightly but broken, sharp plastic can cause injuries if left on the ground.

Ensure players take their bottles, cans, tape and wrappers home with them. Please offer your understanding and support for this activity.

Pitch Status
Remember the status of the pitch; whether closed or opened, is maintained on Twitter, Facebook, the DHUFC Website and the Pitch Hotline (0845 5272 886). If you like or follow our facebook or twitter feeds you will receive immediate notification of pitch status changes direct to your phone.

Cold Weather Clothing
Please ensure you send your child to training wearing appropriate clothing for the conditions. Coaches have been told to contact parents to collect children who are inappropriately dressed.

Thank you for your support.

See Swindon Wildcats

I hope everyone had enjoyable Christmas break.

So we're back to football and hopefully the weather will allow us to get an uninterrupted run of activity through to our half-term break in mid-February. Please do keep in touch with your coaches and team secretaries over this period because I know the postponed matches have caused lots of disruption and changes to your League and Cup activity.

I would also like to take this opportunity to once again promote the fact that we are currently establishing a new Under 7s squad. We now have nine enthusiastic young players participating in our Saturday morning session and are keen to continue to build their numbers. Please spread the word to friends, family and colleagues - football for School Year 2 children at Derry Hill.

Swindon Wildcats
I have arranged to visit the Swindon Wildcats to watch a game of Ice-Hockey. A brilliant opportunity to see the fastest game on earth. An exciting battle of brute force and speed. And at a heavily discounted price. Tickets are £6 per adult, £3 for children (which is less than half the normal price). Members, families and friends all invited. It would be great to see you there.

This English Premier League match takes place at the Link Centre, Swindon on Saturday 19th February where the Wildcats take on the Slough Jets. Face-off is at 5.45pm.

Book your tickets on-line here. Ticket applications close 31st January.

Derry Hill Dug-OutSupport your Club, use the Dug-Out to purchase your training and match day refreshments. A warming hot drink to counter the effects on a cold winter's day. And that big favourite; a bacon roll served warm. Other refreshments are available too. Open most Saturday mornings. All profits go toward Club funds.

We are looking for more parents to help out with the Dug-Out to ensure we are able to open it each week. Please consider helping out by contacting dugout@dhufc.org.

Tribute to Lost Friends

I usually shun requests for charity appeals as there are so many good causes that need a helping hand and we are unable to support them all. However on this occasion I thought it important to  acknowledge and support the activity of a number of older players within the Club who were deeply effected by a tragic road accident that took the lives of three of their friends on New Year's Eve.

Many of the Flames players knew and were friends with the lads who were involved in the crash at Rowde, indeed one of the passengers, Jack Williamson, took part in our tour of Holland last season. I am pleased to report that thankfully Jack, although seriously hurt, is now conscious and out of intensive care. I know him well and am sure his strength and bright and positive personality will aid his journey on the long road to a full recovery.

There is little doubt that Jack would not have been given his chance of survival without the attendance of the superb team from the Wiltshire Air Ambulance who landed close to the vicinity of the crash and were able to swiftly transport him to a specialist head injury unit in Bristol within ten minutes.

There are many activities taking place to celebrate, respect and remember the friendship shared by these young people. One I would like to promote to you is their appeal to support the Wiltshire Air Ambulance by donating through Just Giving (just click the link, it will take you directly to the donation page). This important emergency service offers hope to those who need essential and immediate life saving care within our County. I know a donation of any kind, no matter how small, will go a long way to support the service, our players and all those remembering Jamie, Frankie and George.

A lot of bright, bubbly, young people had the stark reality of their own mortality brought to the forefront of their thoughts over what should have been a happy period of hope for the new year. Our hearts go out to the youngsters who lost their life's and those close to them who have lost special friends and family members.

I hope you are able to support our players' tribute to their lost friends.