OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW FAREHAM HOCKEY CLUBHOUSE AND ASTROTURF
By Schoolnews | Tuesday, September 06, 2011, 09:48
The official opening of the new Fareham Hockey Clubhouse will take place on Saturday 10th September at 2pm. This is perfectly timed to launch the brand new STP (synthetic turf pitch) at The Henry Cort Community College site.
An impressive number of dignitaries will be attending the official opening event at the weekend including Simon Mason, President of England Hockey and The Mayor of Fareham, and the Mayoress Cllr Mrs Susan Bayford.
The new surface will allow Fareham Hockey Club, The Henry Cort Community College and the wider community to further develop hockey at all levels within the club and increase the likelihood of being able to attract talented new players. Hockey at a local, county and regional level will also benefit from the new pitch and Clubhouse set up.
Paul Jones, Clubhouse Operations Manager, Fareham Hockey Club said: "We are delighted to open the new Clubhouse and we are looking forward to enhancing the facilities for players and further expanding the opportunities for junior hockey development."
Paul Jones remarked "As you will appreciate, funding the new pitch has not been easy, especially with the existing and ongoing financial commitment to the new Clubhouse and in the current economic climate. Funding has been agreed jointly from within the Club and with our partners The Henry Cort Community College and Fareham Borough Council. It is important to recognise that a small number of generous Club members and friends have also contributed significantly to the funding mix."
Summary of Events for official opening:
09.30 – 11.00 England v Argentina – World Cup Rugby - Live on ITV
10.00 – 12.00 Junior Coaching session for U-12s, U-14s and U-16s with Brett Garrard,
ex- GB & England hockey star
12.00 – 14.00 Inter-club game on the new pitch
13.00 Buffet in Clubhouse for invited official guests and Club management committee
14.00 Official opening ceremony
14.30 Men's 1st XI match v Southgate
16.00 Ladies match
Fareham Hockey Club is partnered with Henry Cort Community College, a "Centre of Sporting Excellence". This partnership helps to provide hockey training to school pupils complying with Government targets for increased participation in sport out of school hours.
The existing outdoor sports facilities at The Henry Cort Community College already hugely benefit students, the wider community and also neighbouring schools including: Red Barn Community Primary School; Northern Infant School; Castle Primary School; Ranvilles Junior School; St Jude's Catholic Primary School; Locks Heath Junior School; Sarisbury C of E School; Whiteley Primary School; Park Gate Primary School; St Anthony's Catholic Primary School; Titchfield Primary School; St John the Baptist; Oak Meadow Primary School; Redlands Primary School; Uplands Primary and Orchard Lea Junior School.
Principal Phil Munday said: "As a specialist Sports College, we are delighted to work with Fareham Hockey Club and our funding partners to deliver facilities that encourage young athletes to get involved in a number of events that ordinarily they wouldn't be able to do.
We are confident that the new synthetic turf pitch will broaden the range of sports we can offer to include tennis and cricket practice alongside the extensive hockey and football use."
For more details about membership or to find out how you could be amongst the first to try the new surface, please visit Fareham Hockey Club www.farehamhockey.co.uk
For media enquiries please contact Sally Tickner, Press Officer at The Henry Cort Community College on Tel: 02392 354235 or email her at info@sallytickner.com
Note to Editors:
· Fareham Hockey Club was founded in 1900 and is one of the oldest hockey clubs in the country. The club has approximately 250 members and manages eight men's teams and two ladies teams on Saturdays, and nine junior teams on Sundays. The club also runs training sessions three nights a week including Friday youth training sessions regularly attended by some 90 juniors ranging in age from seven to 12 years old.
The club operates the Fareham Academy which works in partnership with local schools to promote and coach hockey to junior school pupils, predominantly at after school sessions. Fareham Hockey Club holds the ClubsFirst Accreditation from England Hockey. This shows the club is committed to maintaining and developing safe, effective and child-friendly hockey.
The club is also proud to be part of the England Hockey National Performance Centre for the South Coast.
For more details about Fareham Hockey Club and for membership enquiries visit:
· For more details about The Henry Cort Community College visit:
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