Regular readers of The Local Answer online will know that Chosen Hill are targeting promotion for all three of their teams this season.

That would be some achievement of course – not may clubs are able to run three teams these days – and they’ll know for sure come the end of April whether they’ve realised their goals.

But whatever the outcome there will still be plenty for the club to look forward to post-April because they are a hosting a major event in June to mark their 50th anniversary.

“We’ve got a ball planned on 13th June,” said chairman Dan Yeates. “It will be in a marquee at the club and we’re expecting about 200 people to attend.”

“We’ve already got ex-players coming over from New Zealand and we’re hoping to get players from all the generations – the 70s, 80s, 90s to the present day. We’re making it a real big thing.”

There will be live music with the ever-popular Tommy and the Fuse but while much of the evening will be about reminiscing about fun times there will be a more serious side to the evening as well.

“We’ll be raising money for Arthur’s Adventure which is our chosen charity,” explained Yeates. “Tom Gyde’s nephew passed away a few months ago from the rare condition genetic NKH, it’s a charity that is very close to the club.

“Tom is an ex-captain of the club and still plays and Arthur’s grandma, Gail, still comes over to the club to watch us play.”

And another name sure to be mentioned many, many times on Saturday 13th June is that of Martin ‘Speedy’ Roberts, who did so much for the club as player and coach after a top class playing career that saw him play for Gloucester among others for a good number of years.

“Martin Roberts is the club’s inspiration,” said Yeates. “He gave a lot of the lads who play for us today their chance.

“He threw them in when they were 17 and supported them all the way. He sadly passed away three years ago but he’s still our biggest inspiration.

“When we get in a huddle before a game we still all say his name ‘Speedy’.”