By Jonathan Brown
Eight games played, eight games won – it’s been quite a rebirth for Ballynahinch Hockey Club’s men’s team. Having disbanded in 2021 due to a lack of player availability, the team reformed in August, thanks to the efforts of former players Ashley Brown, Stuart Hunter, and Lee Thomas.
The trio, all former students of The High School Ballynahinch, and members of the school’s Taylor Cup-winning side under the stewardship of coach Norman Brown, met up over the summer period for a catch-up, and talk soon turned to re-forming Hinch’s men’s setup. A Facebook post on the 25th of August announcing the team’s return signalled the start of the journey and led to several ex-players returning to the club, including Alex Millar, Darren Rowe, and Nathan Campbell.
They couldn’t have asked for a much better start. Having played eight games so far in league and cup, Ballynahinch have won all of them, including a thumping 9-1 league win over South Antrim Fifths, which sees them positioned top of the Ulster Hockey Junior 6 table with six points. Following Saturday’s 8-5 win over North Down Fourths, the team are into the semi-finals of the Ulster Hockey Junior League Cup. A Jason Campbell hat-trick, a brace from Luke Curry, and goals from Alex Millar, Ben Chadwick, and Lee Thomas helped them to victory.
This Saturday, they have a Minor Cup quarter-final to look forward to, where they will face North Down once more. Lee says the role of Stuart and Ashley has been key to Ballynahinch’s success, adding that it’s been a case of “full commitment” from all the players who have joined the club.
“Stuart and Ashley have definitely been key to this, in terms of getting players in, making the right phone calls, sorting out kits and things like that. And we’re getting big numbers at training, and for matchday squads, which is a great headache to have. The last time we were playing (prior to disbanding), we were struggling to get numbers, whereas this year, it seems to be full commitment – everyone is on board and everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet.”
Many of the players that have returned to the team were members of the Ballynahinch side that secured a historic league and cup treble in 2011/2012, culminating in a memorable Irish Hockey Challenge Cup Final win over Kilkenny.
The team is managed by Stuart McKee, another former Ballynahinch player who is currently out of action through injury. “I can’t play, so I was asked to be manager – I enjoy shouting from the sideline! Passion is the key, and although I might not know everything, I’m always there to do a job. It’s the closest thing I can get to playing, and I love it,” Stuart explained.
Commenting on his side’s terrific start to the season, the manager said: “We’re going all guns blazing, and those guns aren’t going to stop.” Stuart, who was also a member of the Taylor Cup-winning side from The High School Ballynahinch, isn’t surprised. He believes the marriage of youth and experience in the team has worked perfectly.
“Many people have doubted what this team can do, but there’s a strong bond there, there are some great players and great guys in there.”
In the full article the members discuss what their hopes are for the season ahead. Also find out what club stalwart Willie Cairns says about the return of the club.
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