MAJOR changes are afoot as Ludlow Hockey Club bid to boost their fortunes in the Midlands League – with a new management team and coach as well as a new venue.
Former skipper Stuart Richards and Adam Aspbury will form the first team’s new management line-up, while Martin Watts and Aaron Wilcox will run a men’s second team. The big change sees a bold decision to engage the highly-rated Liam Hennessey as lead coach.
Hennessey is a member of Cannock’s first team squad who play in the National Premier League, while he is a Level Three coach and head coach for Shropshire junior boys’ teams.
Another big development sees the club moving their base from Leominster back into Shropshire, using the excellent new facility at William Brookes School in Much Wenlock. A few home games will still be played at Bridge Street.
“This is a major change for the club but, with many players living to the north of Ludlow and with an opportunity to select our own start times at an excellent new facility, it was an opportunity that we are excited to take,” said club president Roger Furniss, who is urging all local players to support the move when training begins next Wednesday.
However, with the Wenlock pitch lacking floodlights at the moment, training will still take place at Leominster’s Bridge Street on Wednesdays at 7pm for youngsters and 8pm for seniors.
In the last match action at Bridge Street for a while, the new campaign began for Ludlow men with a win and a loss in a pre-season tournament.
A fine display resulted in a narrow 2-0 loss to Shrewsbury while against the Nik-e-vols, Gavin Hughes scored a hat- trick and Tom Moseley, Danny Robinson and James Pratt a goal each in a 6-3 win.
Tomorrow, the Men’s Super Cup takes place at Much Wenlock (1.30pm) – a first chance to play on the new pitch – for teams from Ludlow, Craven Arms and Church Stretton. Ludlow ladies have a friendly against Tenbury at Leominster and, on Sunday, play in the Kington sixes.