Cannock Hockey Club unveils international standard second pitch

PR Log (Press Release) – Sep 29, 2008 – Sir Patrick Cormack MP will unveil Cannock Hockey Club’s newly refurbished and resurfaced second international standard hockey pitch on Saturday 4th October 2008.

The unveiling of the important second pitch follows the announcement earlier this year that Cannock Hockey Club has been selected as a potential training site to be used by visiting teams to the London 2012 Olympics.

David Linford, President of the Hockey Club said: “We are delighted to unveil our second international standard hockey pitch and are extremely grateful to Sport England, England Hockey and everyone who has helped to turn the club’s ambitions into a reality.

“We are delighted to be selected as a potential hockey training facility for the visiting international hockey squads during the Olympics.  With our enhanced facilities we are now even better placed to continue supporting grass roots hockey in the community as well as this country’s elite sports men and women.”

The upgraded pitch was made possible through two awards of funding from Sport England; £62,500 from the National Sports Foundation, which is Sport England’s primary initiative designed to attract and develop partnerships between private investors and community sport, alongside  £169,834 from Sport England’s Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) in partnership with England Hockey. CCDP provides investment in community sports clubs that are identified by the national governing body as being key to the development of their sport.

Thomas Godfrey, Commercial Director, Sport England said:  “This investment from Sport England, to provide enhanced sports facilities at the club, is extremely important as it increases its ability to provide the sporting pathway for more players to progress in hockey and reach their full potential – for some reaching the elite level of performance.

“With the ability to host matches from junior up to full international level, and potentially being used as a training facility for competing countries at the London 2012 Games, the club is at the forefront of hockey development in the West Midlands and indeed the country. I congratulate everyone involved in the project and wish the club continued success”.

The second pitch was built using the same advanced turf which was used for the newly carpeted main pitch unveiled last autumn.  The innovative surface is made from extremely durable polyethylene monofilament fibres which are similar to nylon blades but much softer with a wet feel.  The pitch surface has been described as the hockey equivalent of Wimbledon’s grass.

http://www.cannockhockey.org