LEWES HOCKEY CLUB
[LEWES]
[HOCKEY CLUB]
Lewes Hockey Club is a great example of the progress that a club can make with a strong set
up in place. Sport in Profile Magazine caught up with Club Representative Peter Thomas to
find out more about this well-run establishment.
Atmosphere
He told us, “There is a real sense of optimism and
excitement about the future. Our Men’s and ladies 1st
teams have both experienced promotion in recent
seasons, with the men combining their achievement by
also winning the club’s first national title - the National
Trophy - in 2013. We also have a blossoming junior
section that is starting to bear fruit in the adult teams - the
hockey is definitely on the up.”
Youth
“Our junior section is at the heart of everything we do and
one of the cornerstones of the success of the club. Every
senior team currently has at least one player who came
through from the junior ranks. We run some sixteen junior
teams from mixed U8s to boys and girls U21s, with each
team having its own dedicated coach and manager and
allocated training.
And our numbers keep growing - we have over 100
members in our mini section alone which covers boys and
girls from U8s to U12s. The section is overseen by our
Junior development officer, Steve Loader, who also sits
on the overall club committee and he and his team have
made great strides especially in the past three years.”
Community
“We are most definitely a community club. Lewes is a
small(ish), intimate town but with a big heart and that is
reflected in the club. There are lots of families with multiple
members and many players are 3rd/4th generation
hockey players. We are also part of the wider Southdown
sports club which encompasses tennis, squash and
netball.
In addition to this we rent the AstroTurf out to local
football clubs and the bar/club house for private functions
and nearly all club sponsors are local businesses with a
long tradition of supporting hockey in Lewes. We are also
keen in supporting those from the wider community - last
season we offered some assisted bursary places to two
junior players who’s parents would otherwise not have
been able to afford the membership costs.”
Facilities
“We are one of only a few clubs in Sussex who have a
clubhouse and pitch on the same site and offer separate
changing rooms for away teams. The clubhouse itself
experienced a £20k refurbishment only this summer - a
joint venture with new caterers, Famigli Lazzatis, a family
business who also run a restaurant in the town. And with
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ISSUE 03