Just ahead of the start of the new hockey season there is it seems a tad of confusion right now regarding the Slough Jets 25th anniversary. There are those that believe it’s been missed and was last year so let me take a moment to explain to you why that theory is in fact incorrect.
The definition, taken from dictionary.com of an anniversary is “The annually recurring date of a past event, especially one of historical, national, or personal importance: a wedding anniversary; the anniversary of the founding”.
Like a birthday an anniversary is celebrated at the end of the successful period completed. When you are born you are zero years old, when you get married you are married zero years, when you establish a hockey club it is zero years old. After 1 year or 1 season that birthday, marriage or hockey club enters it’s second year or second season and celebrates it’s first birthday or anniversary. That’s an accepted concept whether correct or incorrect it is an accepted concept. The birthday or anniversary is a record of successful completion of the event.
Let me explain with a simple table why 2011/12 is the 25th ANNIVERSARY of the Slough Jets. On the left is the Slough Jets anniversaries by season and on the right a comparison of birthdays of a child born in 1986, the same year as the Slough Jets were founded and started competing.
| Season | Anniversary | Year | Birthday |
| 86/87 | Founded | 1986 | Born |
| 87/88 | 1 | 1987 | 1 |
| 88/89 | 2 | 1988 | 2 |
| 89/90 | 3 | 1989 | 3 |
| 90/91 | 4 | 1990 | 4 |
| 91/92 | 5 | 1991 | 5 |
| 92/93 | 6 | 1992 | 6 |
| 93/94 | 7 | 1993 | 7 |
| 94/95 | 8 | 1994 | 8 |
| 95/96 | 9 | 1995 | 9 |
| 96/97 | 10 | 1996 | 10 |
| 98/98 | 11 | 1997 | 11 |
| 98/99 | 12 | 1998 | 12 |
| 99/00 | 13 | 1999 | 13 |
| 00/01 | 14 | 2000 | 14 |
| 01/02 | 15 | 2001 | 15 |
| 02/03 | 16 | 2002 | 16 |
| 03/04 | 17 | 2003 | 17 |
| 04/05 | 18 | 2004 | 18 |
| 05/06 | 19 | 2005 | 19 |
| 06/07 | 20 | 2006 | 20 |
| 07/08 | 21 | 2007 | 21 |
| 08/09 | 22 | 2008 | 22 |
| 09/10 | 23 | 2009 | 23 |
| 10/11 | 24 | 2010 | 24 |
| 11/12 | 25 | 2011 | 25 |
Clear to see from the table above that both the Slough Jets and the child, well technically now adult, will start their 26th years in 2011 but equally Jets will celebrate their 25th anniversary as will the person celebrate their 25th birthday. The trick in the calculation is to not miscount the founded/birth year.
I’m sure the Supporters of the Bracknell Bees who were formed 1 year after the Slough Jets and will celebrate their 25th anniversary next season will agree with me on this.
Hope this helps.
