Lifetime membership for 70-year-old who still plays hockey

Murray Bonnington, long-time player of the Tinwald Hockey Club, has been awarded a life membership.

The 70-year-old first appeared in the club’s minutes in 1974 as a player and board member.

In the 50 years since then, he has become one of its most dedicated members.

Bonnington became president in the mid-2000s and held that position until 2020.

Over the years he has played, refereed, managed and coached for many teams including reps, senior men’s, hatch cup and juniors at all levels. He was a committee member of the Mid Canterbury Hockey Association for a number of years.

Club President Andrew Blain highlighted Bonnington’s skills and enthusiasm when he presented the club with the Life Membership and Certificate of Recognition at the club’s recent AGM.

“Murray’s passion for the sport has inspired many,” said Blain.

“At 70 and after double hip surgery, he still plays in the second division on Sunday nights and in the Masters in the warmer months.

“He usually also whistles before or after the match.”

Bonnington was one of the club members who organised a major fundraiser for the new Ashburton Hockey Turf in the 1990s.

“Due to the success of the grants we were unable to donate all of the funds, but a large portion of them still benefit the club,” Blain said.

“In recent years our club has been reduced to just one team.

“There was little interest in running a small club.

Murray was not deterred and encouraged many of us to get involved and help revitalise the club and prepare it for the future.

“There is no one in this room who is not inspired by Murray and his passion for hockey.”

Murray said his motivation was “just the love of the sport, team spirit and being with other people”.

“It’s a very skillful game and age is no barrier to the way it’s played,” he said.