WITHAM Hockey Club concluded their season with their first ever Walking Hockey match played on grass at the Park in front of a large crowd of members, past members, supporters and friends.

The match was arranged to celebrate the playing retirement of 70-year-old birthday boy Bob Ward and was a challenge match between the current fifth team, who Ward part played for this year, and his old fifth team of the early 1990s, of which he was captain for five years.

Given the current ages of most of that team it was deemed appropriate to play at walking pace and a set of rules were agreed with the help of East of England Hockey.

Current fifth team captain Lee Bedingfield organised the whole event and his side provided shirts for both teams and the umpires.

The match, which was a game of two 20 minute halves, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Going to penalty flicks, the old team sneaked a win with a goal scored fittingly by Ward, who put one in off the keeper's pads.

Player-of-the-match was deservedly awarded to Tony Seabrook, who rolled back the years putting in a sterling performance.

The club is now seriously thinking of introducing Walking Hockey as a means of both introducing people to the game and for keeping older members fit and involved.

However, this game may become an annual event as a number of retired players couldn’t make this year but want to get involved for a re-match.

Club chairman Sam Taylor, who gave a running commentary of the match, on loudspeakers, said: "I was was delighted the day went so well.

"Witham Hockey Club love to try something new and in this case it is also an opportunity for older people to keep fit and enjoy a team sport."

Bedingfield added: "I wanted this to be be special for Bob as he was instrumental in recruiting so many parents of juniors, me included, to start playing for the club and always made new members welcome and become more involved in what is a real family club.

"It was also great to meet the old team and share some of their past stories - it was a really fun day."