Stokesley O35s vs NNewcasstle O35s (H) - 1-2 (L)
Date: Sunday 4th October 2026
MOM: Phil Bell
Goals: C Heayns
Stokesley Over-35s Make National Cup Debut
Stokesley HC 1–2 Newcastle HC
England Hockey Over-35s National Cup – First Round
Stokesley Hockey Club entered a new era on Sunday as the club took to the pitch for its first-ever Over-35s National Cup campaign.
The draw couldn’t really have produced more familiar opposition, with our good friends from Newcastle Hockey Club making the journey down to Teesside. Games between the two clubs are usually competitive, good-natured affairs, and this one proved to be no different.
With availability across Stokesley looking a little stretched during the opening weekend of the competition, there was a real effort to get an Over-35s side onto the pitch. We were very grateful to receive reinforcements from some familiar faces, with Phil Bell and Matt Powell from Thirsk, Mark Milward from Durham and Mark Smith from Gateshead pulling on a Stokesley shirt for the afternoon.
Captain Mark Armitstead led a side featuring Christopher Heayns, Jack Atha, Thomas Atha, Dan Borwell, Josh Shevas, Phil Welsh and our four guest players.
There was also technically Sam Pennington, but more on him later.
A tight opening half
Stokesley started brightly and enjoyed plenty of possession through midfield, with Phil Welsh, Jack Atha and Thomas Atha combining well and allowing a slightly unfamiliar Stokesley side to settle into the game.
There were few clear-cut opportunities at either end during the opening exchanges, but Stokesley moved the ball well and looked increasingly comfortable. On the right, Mark Smith and Matt Powell provided a constant outlet and caused Newcastle problems with some excellent link-up play and forward running.
The most memorable moment of the first half came at the other end.
Newcastle won a short corner and unleashed an absolutely venomous strike towards goal, only for Phil Bell to produce an outstanding goal-line deflection to send the ball to safety.
Whether this was an example of expert defensive positioning and lightning-fast reactions, or sheer panic after an earlier effort had already struck him rather higher up the leg than anyone would particularly enjoy, remains open to debate.
Either way, it worked.
Half-time: Stokesley 0–0 Newcastle.
The half-time message was relatively simple: retain possession, stay disciplined, remain difficult to break down and make Newcastle work for everything.
Approximately two minutes later, that plan was in the bin.
A deflected ball fell kindly to a Newcastle player, who reacted quickest and made no mistake to give the visitors a 1–0 lead.
Newcastle take control
The second half increasingly belonged to Newcastle, who began to create more opportunities and forced Stokesley deeper.
A succession of short corners followed, including one particularly powerful drag flick which found Josh Shevas rather than the backboard. He will almost certainly have a sizeable reminder of it in the morning.
Eventually the pressure told, with Newcastle forcing the ball home to double their advantage and make it 2–0.
To Stokesley’s credit, heads never dropped.
With around ten minutes remaining, Mark Armitstead carried the ball forward before finding Phil Welsh. Welsh exchanged a lovely one-two with Dan Borwell before firing an excellent ball across the face of goal.
Waiting at the back post was Christopher Heayns, completely unmarked and presented with what could generously be described as a two-foot tap-in.
He missed.
Not narrowly. Not because of an outstanding save. He simply completely fudged his lines.
Fortunately, there was still time for redemption.
The missed opportunity seemed to kick Stokesley into life and the pressure began to build as the clock ran down. At 2–0, Newcastle looked comfortable, but Stokesley knew a late goal could at least make the closing moments interesting.
And with what proved to be virtually the final action of the game, Welsh once again found Heayns – this time in a considerably more difficult position than the chance he had somehow managed to miss minutes earlier.
Naturally, he scored this one.
Heayns produced what we shall officially record as an expertly controlled deflection beyond the advancing goalkeeper to deny Newcastle their clean sheet.
For the sake of historical accuracy, he actually stuck his stick out, appeared to miscontrol it and somehow watched the ball find its way past the goalkeeper.
They all count.
Full-time: Stokesley 1–2 Newcastle.
A cracking Sunday of hockey
Ultimately, Newcastle deserved their victory and progress to the next round of the National Cup, while Stokesley’s first Over-35s adventure will continue in the National Plate.
More importantly, it was a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday of hockey and exactly the sort of occasion we hoped the Over-35s competition would provide.
A massive thank you to Newcastle Hockey Club for making the journey down to Teesside. They are genuinely a brilliant bunch of lads and it is always competitive on the pitch and a pleasure to catch up afterwards. We wish them every success in the next round.
A huge thank you also goes to Phil Bell, Matt Powell, Mark Smith and Mark Milward for helping us get a side onto the pitch and representing Stokesley superbly.
The final cherry on top was an outstanding set of post-match teas courtesy of club sponsor The Dough and Bean, who provided a hog roast with roast potatoes (I am not sure how I ended up with the washing up!). Over-35s hockey may have arrived at Stokesley, but the nutritional standards of elite athletes clearly remain negotiable.
Man of the Match: Phil Bell – a superb all-round defensive performance, topped off by an excellent goal-line stop that kept Stokesley level in the first half.
Donkey of the Day: Sam Pennington – who wasn't technically present, but still managed to secure the award courtesy of possibly the worst excuse ever offered for pulling out of a hockey match the night before.
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