Touch Line Gossip continued..FIXTURESWith our present fixture list it is hard indeed to look back to even a few years ago to some of the primitive pitches on which we played. With the improving standard several of our old 1st XI opponents now play our lower Xl's. We are most grateful to these clubs for keeping the fixtures with B.H.C. even though dropping to the 3rd or 4th XI. In these days of the 'block fixture of four or five teams' when a club is played only once a year, the former clubs who helped us on the way up the ladder should not be forgotten.
In the '20s the club's fixtures included R.A.F. Halton, West Herts, St. Albans, Royal Masonic School, Rickmansworth and North Western Railway. Cooper's ran a strong side in the '30s and their matches with the club were always needle affairs. At this time too several other schools were played regularly including Aldenham and Dunstable.
It is a pity that the standard of various works sides, Waterlows, Vauxhall and Hazells among them, has not kept pace with those of the clubs. Immediately after the last war Vauxhall Motors fielded a strong side which gave several local clubs a good beating.
The fixture secretary for the last few years has done a splendid job in raising the standard back to the pre-war list even if this has been at the expense of some faithful opponents of the past. GROUNDSHockey grounds vary enormously as we all know, probably as much as changing accommodation, teas and beer. One remembers the bad more than the good. The bad grounds will remain nameless; quagmires, bottomless morasses, balls lost for good in ruts across the pitch, no baths, no hot-water and teas in dirty and doubtful cafes have all been experienced. Now there is a tremendous improvement with rarely a ground without reasonable washing facilities. They may be the odd flint or two on some grounds but generally the quality of the pitches is far better.
Both before and after the war B.H.C., for reasons we know not, played a team from a Mental Hospital or two. Post-war one of our players, rather slower in changing than the rest of the team, was left behind. The changing room was locked by a Janitor; muffled. shouts and cries came from within. Passing along the passage members of the staff commented that 'old George' was up to his tricks again; 'better leave him for an hour to cool off' they said. Only when a rescue party was sent from the field of play was the missing player released.
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