BROOKLANDS
HOCKEY CLUB
I did deliberate over taking up the role, as I
am fully aware of the amount of voluntary time
such a position demands, but accepted and
agreed to take on the role for a period of time,
before handing the batten on at some point in
the future.
The most challenging parts of my role include
meeting the ever increasing costs involved
with running a successful club. Although we
run on a very low budget, which is significantly
less than any club of our level, attracting
financial partners is an on-going challenge,
and at times very stressful!
Youth development is one of the most important
activities at our Club, starting at 5/6 years old
all the way through to the U18s. We have, over
that past 3/4 years, continued to increase our
presence in the local area, supplying coaching
staff to schools and local authorities as running
half term coaching camps.
The club has been developing its junior
program over the past few years and we are
now starting to see the longer terms benefits.
We have now established U16 and U18
teams, who will compete locally and nationally
in various cups and tournaments. This is an
essential step for these juniors alongside the
regional performance centres ran by England
hockey, and ensures that there is continued
development though until they reach 18.
We are absolutely a community club as the
majority of members and participants live
within the area and our work with the local
school and colleges continues to develop our
local standing.
The overall site at Brooklands Sports club is
good with a range of facilities, however we
are very aware that to continue to compete
at the elite Premier League level and improve
the overall spectator experience there are
development works required.
Early in 2014 we began to identify areas where
improvements had to be made, which included
installing a watering system for the artificial
playing surface to meet premier league
standards, upgrading the spectator facilities
around the playing area and an upgrade of our
floodlighting.
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ISSUE 03
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The most rewarding thing for me has been
the progress we have made over the past few
years, not just with the successes on the pitch
but the overall participation and feel good factor
across the club, alongside the emergence of a
number of Men’s and Ladies juniors into the
senior teams.
The most rewarding thing for
me has been the progress
we have made over the past
few years, not just with the
successes on the pitch but the
overall participation and feel
good factor across the club.