Windsor Hockey Club celebrate promotions as they head into centenary year

Windsor Women’s 1sts

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Windsor Hockey Club have a couple of very good reasons to celebrate as they head into their centenary year after two of the club’s women’s teams were promoted.

There was no stopping the Windsor Women’s 1sts who went on a 20-game unbeaten run as they wrapped up the South Central North 2 title with a couple of games to spare.

They perhaps relaxed a little too much in those last two games as they lost both of them, however, the results had no bearing on the title.

Their incredible run saw them rack up 65 goals with just 15 conceded, while captain Ellen Taylor was top scorer with 22 goals.

The women’s second team had a much rockier start to their campaign before a stealth-like fightback saw them claim promotion from the South Central Thames 1 Division to the South Central North 3.

As the teams headed into the Christmas and new year break it looked like the 2nds might have to settle for a mid-table finish.

Amersham & Chalfont Women’s 4ths and Newbury & Thatcham Women’s 2nds were leading the way and were the early contenders for silverware. However, Windsor made the most of their stumbles in the second half of the campaign and soon they were breathing down the back of their necks.

With just one point separating Newbury and Windsor going into the latter stages of the season, it was Newbury who blinked first as they lost to Windsor before dropping further points to Sonning, while Windsor held their nerve to be crowned champions with a four-point buffer at the top.

Next season the club will mark its landmark 100th anniversary with the launch of a bold new kit with a change of colour for the first time in its history.

Unveiled at the end of season awards last weekend, the centenary kit is "castle grey" in tribute to iconic Windsor Castle which dominates the town and has also been the club's badge since it was formed in 1925.

The club's heritage colours of green and red for the men and purple and white for the women have been incorporated into flashes that run down the sides of castle grey shirts, shorts and skorts.

It is a departure from the traditional club colours but unites the three sections - juniors, men, and women - under one kit for the first time.

The club also has three new sponsors - climate friendly lighting firm Houseof.com, local IT support service GP Computers and Windsor based osteopath and physio practice The Arch Clinic.