TAVISTOCK Hockey Club Men’s first team were invited to a reception at Tavistock Town Hall on Wednesday, June 29 to celebrate being crowned as the England Hockey Men’s Team of the Year for 2016.

During the 2015/16 campaign, they won all 22 of their Southern One league matches to earn promotion to the Conference South, while they also reached the Devon Trophy semi-finals and last 16 of the HA Vase.

That led to them being shortlisted for the Men’s Team of the Year award, which saw them travel to Reading for the ceremony on Saturday, May 21.

There, they beat off competition from Boots, Wapping and Richmond’s first elevens to win the crown and start a mass celebration.

To say thanks for putting Tavistock on the map and giving the town such great media attention, the players and coaching staff were invited to the town hall for a an evening with the mayor, Mandy Ewings, and members of the town council.

With over 90% of the players attending, the boys enjoyed a casual reception where they spoke to the councillors and enjoyed some laid on food.

Andy Berry, who plays as a defender and is one of five or six players from the Launceston area, was delighted with the evening.

Andy said: “It was an excellent evening which was actually quite informal.

“We spoke to the mayor and the town councillors for a while before they offered their thanks for the positive media coverage the town and the club has received.”