Rushcliffe MP, Kenneth Clarke, was in Lady Bay, Nottingham, on Sunday 12 October 2014 to officially open the new astroturf pitch at Boots Hockey Club, with help from the England Hockey Masters men’s and women’s over 40s squads as well as England indoor international, Sam Ward.

This summer, Boots Hockey Club was awarded funding totalling £149,000 from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Legacy Fund and England Hockey’s Capital Investment Programme to replace the astroturf hockey pitch and upgrade the floodlighting at the Nottinghamshire Sports Ground, Lady Bay, Nottingham.

The existing pitch was reaching the end of its life and becoming dangerous to play on, particularly in wet weather. The new pitch and improved floodlighting will enable the club to continue recent growth and develop their junior academy as well as provide an improved facility for other community sports users.

To celebrate the new astroturf pitch, the club held an opening event aimed at promoting the attraction and development of new and junior players, the continuing development and retention of older players, as well as celebrating recent representative honours for Lynn Combes and Ann Fairbrother from the club’s ladies first team.

During the summer, Lynn Combes was selected and played for the England Masters over 40’s at the Hockey World Cup held in Rotterdam, Holland, where they brought home a bronze medal. She was also selected together with Ann Fairbrother to play for the England Masters over 40’s team in the Home Nations tournament held in Swansea, which they won and brought home a gold medal.

The event started with a junior training session with additional coaching from England indoor international, Sam Ward. Sam re-joined childhood club Beeston last season, where his 21 goals in the NOW: Pensions Premier League helped them to the Premiership title and earned Sam a call up to the England Indoor team and now a central contract with England Hockey.

Above: England’s Sam Ward passes on some top tips to Boots Hockey Club Academy players. Image by Richard Johnson.

This was followed by a brief opening ceremony, during which Kenneth Clarke (MP for Rushcliffe), with Rushcliffe Deputy Mayor, Cllr Francis Purdue-Horan watching on, congratulated the Club on its terrific growth, especially over the last ten years, wishing the club the best of luck for the coming season. Mr Clarke also thanked the funding partners; Nottinghamshire County Council, Sport England and England Hockey for their support that has helped to deliver another top sporting facility in the Rushcliffe area.

Above: Ken Clarke MP ‘bullies off’ with Boots HC president, Phil Short, to open the new pitch, with England Hockey mascots Jess (left) and Jasper and members of Boots HC’s Academy ready to act as ball patrol for the big games. Behind are (L to R): Ian Wainwright, UK MD of QC Data (club sponsor); Andy Barnes, Chair – Nottinghamshire Hockey Association; Cllr. Francis Purdue-Horan, Rushcliffe Deputy Mayor; Mrs Gillian Clarke; Sam Ward; David Beaumont, Chair – Nottinghamshire Sports Club Ltd; John Harrison, Sport England; Kirsty Goldie-Brammer, England Hockey National Facilities Manager; Councillor Mrs Maureen Stockwood, Rushcliffe Deputy Mayor’s Consort. Image by Richard Johnson.

The day was finished off by two hockey matches with Boots Hockey Club ladies’ first team drawing 3-3 with England Hockey Masters ladies and Boots Hockey Club men’s first team putting up a good fight, but losing 2-5 to the England Hockey Masters men.

Throughout the day there was sportswear and Indian street food for sale from two of the Club’s West Bridgford based sponsors, Mad Dog Sports and Slumdog.

Club Captain, Keith Kirkpatrick:

“We were extremely honoured to have our local MP, Kenneth Clarke, plus Sam Ward and the England Hockey Masters joining us to celebrate the opening of our new pitch, which has been made possible by the investment we’ve received from all three funding partners, countless hours of hard work behind the scenes by a number of our club members and the support of our landlords, Nottinghamshire Sports Club Ltd. Together, this has enabled us to provide an excellent facility for existing and new hockey players as well as other sports users in the local community.

The day was a great success. It was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic juniors keen to learn new skills in the morning, followed by some top class hockey. It was a great privilege to help the England Masters ladies with the start of their selection process for the 2015 European Hockey Masters Championships being hosted by England. All the ladies pushing for selection did themselves proud and they and the England Masters men really showed the crowd that age is just a number.”