Donning the red and white squares

The team came together in 1983 after the Benoni Northern Areas Club was invited to join a new “Social Hockey League” to play on Sunday mornings, made up of older players, some of whom played Masters League.

Other Clubs on the East Rand who were invited to enter sides were Old Bens, Brakpan, Modder, Boksburg and Kempton Park.

The aims of the league were, to play socially on Sunday, to maintain a high standard of play and to keep costs down.

I know Gary Talbot, who was the driving force in creating the league, worked tirelessly to maintain these aims.

The games at that time were all played on grass pitches which were always in use, five months for the hockey season and then re-marked for either football or cricket.

The side formed a committee to determine guidelines for the “Geriatrix”, a name that was adopted about 9 months later, with a new logo designed by Chris Coetzer.

Founder members included Jerry Bayley (sometime captain and admin), Barry Kelvie, Alan Castleman (advisor), Harold “Tagger” Wright (tour organiser), Johnny Schaap (social), Chris Leigh, Derek Manning, Tony Metzer, Stan Spittal, Graham Gemmel and Gerald “Moose” Mills.

Barry was the captain of an occasional invitation side and first league captain, a league from which most of the original players came after playing there for 10-15 years.

The guidelines introduced were:

1. A Social side, all fees to be paid to the club,
2. Play in club colours (red and white squares),
3. No fundraising,
4. No fines,
5. No chirping of umpires (who were all certified volunteers),
6. No forfeit for not staying after the game,
7. No drinking before the game (but Old Brown Sherry very welcome at half time)
8. The only levy: two crates of Castle after the game
9. Admit youngsters so long as they understood “social” hockey
10. Admit any senior players so long as they paid dues to the Club
11. To have an annual tour at the end of the season (Pay and Play) with invited players to make up numbers if needed.

Generally, these guidelines were followed. Geriatrix was one of the last to play in “squares” (club colours).

At times, the team struggled, as do all closed sides, with retirements, emigration and relocation from Benoni.

About 120 players have been in the side and many travelled with us on tours to Durban, Cape Town, Richards Bay, White River and Nelspruit.

The side has recently (after Covid) been rejuvenated, losing its social status as, in the interests of the club, the Social League became the basis for a new formal league in which to build on the returning hockey players.

The Geriatrix now has registered players, new kit, and new management under Gavin Troskie and Marinda (admin), Warren Wallendorf (captain), Gavin Richter (social), Charlie Wallendorf and Michael Holland.

I wish them every success, and have helped them out this year when a man down, but only as a “cone”, being much slower than I used to be.