The Geoff Middleton Memorial Trophy is presented to the club member who has done most to welcome new members to SHC. Who is Geoff? This tribute was written shortly after his death in 2005.

I'm not sure if many of our current, successful U18 side knew Geoff very well. Yet he was a significant reason many of them play their hockey at Stevenage rather than Letchworth or Hitchin. He as much as anyone established Ditchmore Lane as the place to enjoy the day as well as the game and over the years this has attracted and retained more players than could be expected for a town such as ours.

As a hockey player Geoff was a resolute defender with a good eye for a tackle and strong hit. He enjoyed a win, of course, but had a Corinthian attitude to the game which found its way into the psyche of some of the most hard-nosed of fellow players. He was a stalwart of the infamous Sunday Xl of 1960s and 70s when friendly, non-league hockey was still played twice a weekend. He was also a Thyrsus midweek regular and occasionally turned up on time.

In the 1970s when he could have been playing for a higher team he established the Club's 5th Xl and endowed it with a tradition of giving everyone a chance and having a good time whatever the result. He was a much loved 5th team captain for many years instilling the spirit of the game into the youngsters he encouraged and inspired. He was the "Father of the 5s" and - quite properly - the self appointed guardian of their principles. Geoff continued playing until well into his 60s and thereafter was a great supporter and friend of the Club and, with Janet, a regular Saturday evening visitor.

A sociable man always ready with an anecdote or joke, Geoff made sure he welcomed and introduced himself to every new member of the Club and especially their lady guests. It was a great moment for Geoff when the Stevenage Ladies joined forces with the Men's Club. In the 70s we acquired a piano at the club and Geoff knew exactly which keys to tickle to get us singing, sometimes songs which may not have gone down too well in a mixed club. But Geoff was a man of principle ahead of his time and famously resigned from the Club for 24 hours while a "gentleman's evening" was held to raise funds.

Of course he was a good hockey tourist. Ramsgate in the early days and for the past 30 years he was a Gau-Algesheim regular, including Easter this year. Sandwiched in between was the infamous Uranus trip to Bingley in 1979 and many of the great stories of that incident packed tour feature Geoff [with apologies to Janet who never wanted to hear of it again].

Away from SHC Geoff, a former art teacher, was an accomplished craftsman - painter, illustrator, woodworker, plantsman, winemaker and, perhaps foremost, potter. I have 7 plant pots made by Geoff each one a memento of a party at which he arrived with plant, pot and bottle to fuel hours of conversation, jokes and laughter. He was always one of the first names on my invitation list.

On the Saturday evening two days before his sudden death, Geoff and I were sharing in a barrel of IPA at the club and, as ever, talking of many things: including on this occasion "the afterlife". I think we had broad agreement that if we live on it is through the zest for life, the creative urge, the sense of fun, the spirit which we engender in those that follow us. At Stevenage Hockey Club Geoff lives on.

KB, July 2005