Good evening and welcome to the Hangar for tonight’s game. With all the upheaval of late with players tendering their resignation it may have overshadowed the fact that tonight is a massive milestone for one of our own. Tonight Matt Towalski play his 500th EPL game, a notable achievement and even more so considering he is only 29 and has years left ahead of him.
I remember a young Matt Towalksi making his senior debut for the Jets in 2000, at the age of just 14. Things like that don’t happen nowadays but back in the day if you were good enough then you got a game. Back then there was a greater acknowledgement of the “face cages” and those players weren’t picked on by the big boys. He cemented his place with the Jets in 2002 and after 3 seasons as a top team player he left to MK. 7 seasons in Buckinghamshire were followed by an eventual return home and last season he was rewarded with the coach’s player of the year award. Matty is a real team guy, there’s nothing he won’t do for his team and tonight he hope he has an enjoyable and memorable night and that everyone here gives him the reception he so rightly deserves.
Obviously the main talking point this week has been the players that have decided to make tonight their last game for the Slough Jets. Firstly I’d like to say congratulations to Craig on the new job. I’ve known Craig a long time, we’ve done some pretty silly things together over the years but when it comes to hockey he knows his stuff, he has endless enthusiasm and passion for the sport and the club and he will give 110% to lead his team.
It’s sad to see players go and these guys are more than just players, they’re friends too. I wish them all the best for the future and hope that they all can remember their time in Slough fondly. Make sure you give them a big send off tonight when the Jets take their final laps.
Enjoy tonight’s game and get right behind the boys
Mark
