Suzy Thomas

Early 2002 - Present

Captain, Secretary 

So how did I end up at Cardiff and Met, Cardiff Athletic as it was then.  For this I blame my Aunt I asked her when I finished university what clubs were good in Cardiff. She told me if you want to play Hockey you join Penarth if you want a social team who play good hockey then Cardiff Athletic is for you.  She was definitely right.  In 2002 we had 3 teams and I joined the mighty thirds who along with Rhian ‘Party Rhi’ Williams, and Nic ‘Snatchy’ Hatch made a formidable defence the fact that 10 years or so later we would be the first team defence was never on the radar at the time.  I would love to say I have lots of memories of the games that year but I don’t apart from we were awesome the pitches were interesting and on the last weekend of the season I played for the 3s then the 2s on a boiling hot day then proceeded to drink a bottle of wine still dehydrated before the end of season dinner.  It was a messy night.

What I do mostly remember of that year were the socials.  My first social was a three legged pub crawl starting in the Beverley as all nights did.  I was paired with Bill Hunt who at my tender age of 23 was ancient I thought.  However he was the club chairperson and a good partner for a newbie as he knew everyone and introduced me to everybody.  After that most weekends were spent in the Beverley after matches and then into town.  I’m still grateful that cameras on phones weren’t a thing and Facebook wasn’t around.

Although I loved my time that year I was off travelling the next year and so I said goodbye to everyone but not before a quick trip to Austria as the 1^st Team manager in the European club championship.  It was a great long weekend but not without its trials.  Lost passports,  topless pitch invasions by our team were challenging but not as hard as writing a match report everyday and then having to fax it to Hockey Wales because being able to email on a phone was a long way off and laptops and Wi-Fi in hotel rooms were very few and far between.  Yes it was the dark ages imagine we had wooden sticks as well.  It was a great trip though.

2005-2014

2 years later and I was back, somethings had changed we only had 2 teams and I was now playing for the 2s but a lot hadn’t, the gang of Abby Mac, Rhi, the Isitt twins, Northern and Trevs were still around as well as the Kiwis.  The club had definitely got a little smaller though and this is when I made my first mistake I went to the club AGM.  In those days if you turned up to the AGM you got assigned a position if you wanted one or not.  It took me another 9 years to get rid of ladies Secretary and that was only because I was pregnant and leaving the country.  I never learn though as I got roped straight back into the committee when I returned from having children after the merger.

The next 8 years 2005-2014 were good years for socials but harder on the pitch trying to keep a second team in the league going to games with 12 or less players, playing 2 games to help out, umpiring instead of playing but the friends who came into my life were great.  Scary Mel, Caroline, Alan, Kelly, Chids, Amy, Irish and Lisa to name a few of the ladies and of course Married they are still my friends today.  Road trips to Milford Haven, Llandrindod Wells and Chepstow were great for team bonding.  I did get hit a lot in the head with a hockey ball during this time almost 1 a year for 5 years before the curse broke.  I moved from the 2s to the 1s and back to the 2s and back to the 1s again and I also went on a few hockey tours to Barnstaple which were messy, very messy.

The greatest hockey memory of this time was when we reached the 2^nd Team cup final.  We were against Swansea 2 leagues above us and were the total underdogs.  At fulltime it was 1-1 we went to extra time golden goal and lost 3 mins before the end. I have never been so gutted and so proud of how we played.   Alongside this there is also the memory of me 1-1 with the goalie but as a defender I totally messed it up the shot was going top right corner but in fact I swung missed and then landed on my back in the d with everyone laughing at me.      

Socials were out of this world from Ladies section only boat trips around the bay that always ended up in Minsky’s to 3 legged pub crawls with the men.  Che and I are still the best team around and we were very competitive that year.  Most nights ended up in us dancing in the Westgate and then rushing to get to the VIP section in Walkabout.  Other highlights include the many EOS dinners getting the club person of the year twice and Michelle Isitt’s hen do to Edinburgh to name a few.  I’m surprised my liver survived but it was great fun and I was sad to leave in 2014 but the girls gave me a good send off.

2017-2022

My return in 2017 was the biggest change as it was after the merger.  No longer Athletic we were now Cardiff and Met.  However it was nice to be a team player not worrying about getting a team out and the 4s were ace to play with.  I was the old lady at the back and still am but we had an amazing season gaining promotion with Chids as our coach.  The next season I was playing for the 3s and have been there ever since.  The only difference from the old days is that a few players have left and I am now the oldest member of the ladies section.  I have been captaining the 3’s for the last 2 years and we got promoted to Prem 1 this season, so I might have to get a bit fitter or just get a good centre defender who can cover for me.

My socialising is a little limited now, no longer every Saturday night, I’m lucky if I get out twice a season but hockey is keeping me young and the youngsters are helping me to keep with the times apparently crocs are back in, who knew.  Although informing them that I had hockey socks older than them and explaining we had offside when I started playing is not helping me I don’t think.  At least they don’t mind running around and me shouting at them so it’s a good situation. Fitness with Suzy anyone!!

I also got the opportunity to get a Welsh cap for the Over 40’s master team.  A great home nations in Southgate narrowly losing to England and 5^th in the European Championships in Rotterdam were amazing memories.  These opportunities keep me playing this game, it’s a little bit addictive as I get older the injuries take longer to mend but I will keep playing for as long as I can.  Now my boys are playing as well so I have to play long enough to show them a thing or 2, well I can show them how to deliberately spoil play with your feet I’m good at that.

So am I a legend?  

No I don’t think so but I’ve been here long enough to get to write this and there are many more memories that I haven’t mentioned as well which could be legendary.