ASHMOOR Hockey Club members old and new gathered for their traditional New Year’s celebration games.

The games were a great success, commencing with “Ashmoor vs The Exiles” followed by the club’s yearly, mixed inter-club clash.

Over 55 players featured this year with the Exiles side including two of Ashmoor’s current international alumni.

Both Alf Dinnie, capped 50 times by Wales and two-times Commonwealth games athlete, and Sam Taylor, who has just returned from playing for England in their successful Pro-League matches in Argentina, came through Ashmoor's much revered junior programme.

Ashmoor’s current crop ran out the victors, winning 5-3 thanks to goals from Tyrone France, Lewis Hammett, Cellan Stokes and Charlie Brownlow (2). Fletch Naisbett-Jones, James Bromfield and the aforementioned Taylor scored for the Exiles.

It's been a great year for Ashmoor, with the club's 21st birthday celebrated at the annual awards dinner in April, where an exciting three-year sponsorship deal with Pallex South West was also announced.

Whilst the various teams are performing well in their respective leagues, the Men’s 1st XI are getting set to compete in the England Hockey Super Sixes National Division 1 (featuring the top 18 teams in the country).

This takes place over the next two weekends in Nottingham and Bristol. Against top opposition, the team will be aiming to see if they can repeat the amazing feat of 2022-23, when they gained promotion to the top tier Premier League! Once again, they are extremely grateful for the support of the School of Natural Skincare to assist the team in competing at such a high level.

Pictured are the Ashmoor current team (purple shirts) and the Exiles (white shirts) after the highly entertaining New Year celebration match.