M1 Home To Oxted in MHL Opener On Sat. Evening
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men open their Men's Hockey League Premier Division campaign on Saturday evening when Oxted visit Sugden Road for a 6pm push back.
Supporters unable to attend can watch the match via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here
The match will also be the first match for new Head Coach Barry Middleton, who has transferred from Holcombe to replace Mark Pearn, who was in post from 2016-17 to the end of last season, helping Surbiton to win both indoor and outdoor titles.
Since Oxted were promoted to the top-flight after winning Division One South in 2019-20, Surbiton have been dominant, however Oxted will have fond memories of their 1-0 win at Oxted School in October 2020, when Tim Guise-Brown scored the only goal in what turned out to be both teams' final matches due to Covid-19.
Oxted have since moved home games to Caterham School, but Surbiton are yet to play there having last played away to Oxted in September 2021, when Surbiton won 5-2 at Oxted School.
At Sugden Road, Surbiton have won both Premier Division meetings: 6-0 in October 2023 and 5-1 in October 2022.
The teams have met twice in the League Finals Pool stage at Sugden Road, Surbiton winning narrowly 3-2 in March 2023 and 8-1 in March 2024.
Surbiton will also be taking their first steps towards hosting Waterloo Ducks in Euro Hockey League KO16 next month.
Oxted finished second in the Lower Six to qualify for the League Finals but will be hoping to qualify in the Top Six for the first time having narrowly missed out over the last three seasons.
Elsewhere in the MHL Premier Division on Saturday, Richmond play their first ever top-flight match at Beeston. Bowdon, who were promoted from Division One North face a baptism of fire when they welcome champions, Old Georgians to Altrincham.
Holcombe will face Wimbledon; Southgate are at home to Cardiff & Met and East Grinstead host Hampstead & Westminster.