AFTER five promotions in a row didn’t impress the England Hockey judges, Marlow HC men’s second team are hoping six on the spin will be enough to earn them the prestigious title of Team of the Year.

They made the shortlist of three last season but lost out to national league winners Beeston.

Beeston are again in the running but Marlow are crossing their fingers that an unprecedented run of six successive promotions will tip the scales their way.

Stalwart player Trevor Jackson said: “Nominating Beeston again would be a bit boring, and we’ve gone one step further now too.

“We were disappointed not to win it last year but I remember looking around the table and we were resolute to try again.

“We lost our first game of this season 4-1 but have managed to turn it around and secure promotion to the MBBO Premier 1.

“That’s our sixth in a row; there is 42 years of history in the South League and I don’t know of another team that’s managed this achievement.

“Whether it’s the same as winning a national title I don’t know, but we’ve done something special.”

For good measure Marlow 2s also won the Bucks Cup, beating first teams from Wycombe, Slough, Milton Keynes, Amersham and Aylesbury on the way to the title.

Jackson, who has played in all six promotion campaigns alongside Richard Clee and Robert Gerrits, said: “It’s been an evolution. Initially the three of us provided a lot of the momentum.

“But then Kevin Chappell became captain and provided links with Sir William Borlase’s so there has been an influx of high quality boys.

“Next year will be a matter of survival, but if we can do that the season after should be very good because Borlase have a very good U14s side.

“I’d expect them to make up half our side in a few seasons.”

The Team of the Year will be announced at Bisham Abbey on May 24.

Meanwhile, Marlow’s U12 girls will compete in the South Finals at Surbiton this weekend.