It is with much sadness that we report the sad news of the death of Mike Elliott. Mike was a true club stalwart and was a major influence on how the club looks and operates today. Back in 2005, Brian Ward wrote this piece in recognition of Mike’s dedicated work with SHC :

Mike was recruited to S.H.C. in 1960/61 by Gordon Hall, taking over from Tom Ward as First XI Left Half and coached into the position by Tony Davis and George Hempseed. He took over as Fixtures Secretary from Gordon Hall in 1964 until he handed over to Roger Lomas in 1973.

In 1960 the Club had ran four Saturday teams and had the ‘Calvers’ side on a Sunday. His first eye-opener was a Blackpool Tour with Gordon Boot and Frank Morrell.

His first Committee Meetings were at the offices of Clegg & Sons, Solicitors, in Figtree Lane. He became First XI Vice Captain in 1962 and then two stints as Captain in 1963/66 and 1969/71. He also played in Gordon Hall's ‘Clodhopper’ side with tours to Scarborough and Weston, before eventually taking over the running of this side from him.

In 1963 he played for Yorkshire against Kent at Canterbury.

His playing career was nearly all with the First XI from 1960 until around 1976, finishing inevitably at Left Back. After finishing and suffering the usual withdrawal symptoms, he gave up playing for a while to concentrate on walking in the Peak District (another story).

The turning point in his hockey career was a telephone call in 1974 from Yorkshire asking him to take over, at short notice, as Chairman of Selectors from Kevin Deady who had moved out of the county. Then a roller-coaster tour of duty ensued, (working with David Higham and Norman Hughes) raising the profile of Yorkshire Hockey and perhaps laying the foundations for later success. The appointment prompted him to take a coaching course (to learn about the game!) and coaching then became very much part of his life.

At the Club he took over Junior Coaching responsibilities from Tony Woodard and was Club Coach between 1982 and 1990, and was official Junior Organiser from 1991 to 1999.

He was fully involved with the England trial held at Abbeydale in 1971 along side Ken Stoneman, Tony Woodard, Gordon Hall and others.

Working with Andy Tapley, he assisted with the design, contract, laying and marketing of the new ‘All Weather’ surface at Abbeydale in 1989, the first club pitch of this kind in the county. An exciting experience, for example when Ken Stoneman found that the contractors had incorrectly measured and marked out the lines!

The Junior section really took off then and with the help of many others, including Trevor and Ann Marshall, Andy and Julia Tapley, Christine O'Donovan and Richard Wilson, (Wizz), with junior sides playing at various levels and a progression of juniors into the Club sides.

He assisted with arrangements for the Club's 90th Anniversary in 1988, Yorkshire Centenary in 1994 and the Club's Centenary celebrations in 1998, when he became the unofficial Club Archivist. He was assistant to Steve Catton in managing the World Student Games' Hockey competition in Sheffield in 1991, (won by G.B.).

His contribution to hockey was recognised with the Hockey Association Award of Merit, Services to the Game at National Level, 1992, and English Hockey Certificate of Thanks for Outstanding Contribution to the Game 1998.

He eventually had to give up club and juniors coaching in 1999 (through a knackered knee).

Former club President Andy Tapley added his own commemoration; “Mike's love of hockey was infectious and he was a very positive influence on a range of 1st XI Captains (not least myself !,) during our "golden" era in the late 70s and 80s when the team won everything in Yorkshire and achieved its highest position in the National play-offs, the early version of the National League.

Thanks for all you've done for SHC Mike. You've left a wonderful legacy.