The Athlone Hockey Club squad at their recent home versus Galway in the RSC. Athlone squad: Sarah Lawless (captain), Riona Cunningham, Ella Claffey, Olivia Walsh, Aoife Purtill, Lucy Brett, Jodie Shortall, Ava Shortall, Jenny Paul, Ava Martin, Norah Canny, Katlyn Murray, Mia Daly, Ayla Kurt Elli, Grace O’Flaherty. Abdul Baqi Achekzqi is the team’s coach, with Joanne Kurt Elli and Alona Rock joint managers. Photo: Paulina Kusa.

Athlone Hockey Club aims to build on exciting progress

Published: Sun 12 Nov 2023, 10:04 PM

Last updated: Sun 12 Nov 2023, 10:10 PM

Athlone Hockey Club is in the middle of a busy spell in the 2023/24 season which will run until April of next year. With age groups from under-10s to senior, the club would welcome new members with open arms in order to continue growing and developing the club.

“We have over 160 playing members and many volunteers who have got our club to where it is today,” said Athlone Hockey Club chairperson Alona Rock.

Athlone Hockey Club had a very successful season last year, with the senior ladies’ first team getting promoted to the Connacht Division 1 league for the first time in over ten years. “Unfortunately, due to people moving away, we have lost some older experienced players. The club’s aim for this season is the development of younger players and keeping our position in the Division 1 league,” said Alona.

Abdul Baqi Achekzai is the new coach for the two senior teams that are competing in the Connacht league, with high hopes for both. Abdul comes to Athlone with an impressive CV, having coached the Afghanistan women’s team and played for Afghanistan in the 2012 Olympics. All teams are training at least weekly and the senior teams train twice a week with strength and conditioning once a week.

The club’s under-16 and under-14 teams also compete in Connacht, with U-16 club players Grace Brosnan and Amelie Henson playing for Connacht at interprovincial level. U18 players Aoife Purtill and Riona Cunningham, as well as former Athlone player Kate Stuart Trainor, have been selected to play for Connacht at interpro level. The U-12s and U-10s play regular blitzes both at home and at clubs in Connacht and the midlands.

The club’s home is the international-standard pitch at Athlone Regional Sports Centre.

The club is very grateful to its two new sponsors this year: Custom Cuts, who have sponsored the new sign at the pitch, and McGorisk’s Pharmacy, who have provided first aid kits for the teams.

The club welcomes new members or past members who have any interest in hockey, fitness or meeting new friends to join the club and help it to develop further.

Athlone Hockey Club can be contacted through its website, email (athlonehockeyclub@gmail.com), or via its Facebook or Instagram pages.