Yes, I think I may be one of the only people crazy enough to publish such a thought provoking question! Thoughts on a postcard, or better yet, sent to lloydy@suffolk-hockey.org.

Firstly, where has the Suffolk Cup gone? Well that is two questions rolled in to one really! Where has the actual Cup presented to the winners of the Suffolk Cup gone, and where has the competition gone? Many years have passed since my pre-university days, where I represented a Suffolk Club that won that competition, it was held in Lowestoft, and everybody had left bar us and the organisers who presented us with the Cup.

Why has this competition disappeared? Can we revive it?

I’d like all first teams in Suffolk to seriously consider reviving this, as I believe it can hold a great purpose. My thoughts would be to host this competition 3/4 weeks before the first League games of the Season, therefore the competition would simply slot, not only in to teams pre-season, but our Suffolk Umpires too. Surely this has got to be better than travelling outside of the county for 1 match? I understand Suffolk has the handicap of not having a venue with a double pitch facility, and I’m suggesting we all hike up to Harleston to use their two pitches, but if we were to get enough interest, we could host the competition over two days and three venues. Day 1, group stage with each team playing in a league at two separate locations (for example, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds), with the top two going to the Semi-Finals on the Sunday at one venue (for example Ipswich). Yes, there would be travel involved, but during the league season you do not play 22 homes games.

Another option is that we host two one-day competitions, a Cup and a plate, based on each clubs outdoor standing. The men’s competition next season may look like this:

Cup

Ipswich
Felixstowe
Bury St Edmunds
Ipswich-East Suffolk
Sudbury/Ipswich Crane

Plate

Sudbury/Ipswich Cranes
Lowestoft Railway
IES B
Ipswich B
AN Other B

Just food for thought! Obviously the Ladies competition would involve a lot more teams.

Does the Suffolk Cup have to be an 11-a-side competition? 7-a-side can mean that two matches are played at once on one astro, small squad requirements could mean that clubs could field more than one team. Again food for thought!

Please bring your ideas forward, they will be treated anonymously if required.