What a season! 2022-23's club korfball in review

As the competitive korfball year came to an end this Sunday, it's time to look back on a fantastic, fun-packed, hard-fought, well-earned successful season.

There have been a host of achievements large and small, at a club level and personal level, that every player in this club can be proud of.

The stand-out achievement is - of course - our first team's performance in winning Division 1 and reaching the promotion play-offs. This is all the sweeter, given that at the end of the 2021-22 season, Guildford Thunder were a whisker away from relegation. It's all the more incredible given the season-opening Chris Carter Cup saw the team finish only third.

And this success for the first team has not affected the second team performance with a creditable fourth place in a highly competitive Division 2. 

What's more, the creation of the third team has shown how well we've recruited as a club, and the team's performance has shown how novice players have really developed and started to gel as a team.

That third team wouldn't have been possible without new players, and it's been brilliant to welcome so many people into Guildford Thunder this year (particularly through our work with the University of Surrey) and to welcome back some familiar faces.

Of course, the success of our teams is due in no small part to our coaches, and it's been a real strength to be able to have expanded in such a well-supported way.

​With the 3 teams racking up more than 550 goals this season, all the hard work on skills, communication and fitness in training are all paying off.

What's also given the team an edge this season is our splendid new threads, and it's a testament to the belief in the future of the club that we've been able to get our match-ready matching outfits because of our sponsorship deal with Pure Plastering (thanks Si!).

And this belief in our club and our achievements has been brilliant to see on our social media channels (particularly our new TikTok account) as well as telling the world about ourselves on BBC Radio Surrey.

In terms of personal development, this year has seen 3 of our young players complete their Bronze DofE Awards with korfball as their chosen physical activity. 

Off the field of play, we've seen competitive action of a social kind on the bowling alley, in the boardgame cafe and (if eating ice cream is a competitive sport) at Creams too.

But what's next?

As thoughts turn to playing outdoors and next season, the club's committee is busy doing all the things that make the club run smoothly - making sure fixtures are agreed, courts are booked, and legal requirements and league commitments are met. On that front, with 3 teams we have greater refereeing commitments and the club has supported several players to become referees, bettering their understanding of their gameplay in the process.

As the playoffs beckon, we plan for what happens if the first team is promoted, and how we support the second team to promotion and bringing the third team up to a truly competitive level.

All fun problems to have for a successful and expanding club.

Roll on the summer friendly tournaments, the cup and the new season! Party!