Sport IMAGE ©GUERNSEY HOCKEY The season runs from September until March or the Easter holidays. It culminates in an annual interinsular against Jersey, where three island men’s teams and three ladies’ teams, chosen from the Guernsey Hockey membership, take on their opposite numbers from Jersey. Matches against Jersey also take place at junior and veteran (over 35) level during the season. ‘Like many organised team sports on the island we have seen a small decrease in new joiners, particularly amongst 18 to 25 year olds,’ said Steve. ‘Many of our current junior members move away to university.’ But Guernsey Hockey is developing ways to play, from a new indoor competition requiring smaller teams, #HockeyFest, a new look business league and developing its facilities to make it more family-friendly. All children in primary school are able to access hockey through the Guernsey Sports Commission’s PE in Schools programme. This is the main avenue for young people to become involved in the sport. Guernsey Hockey is developing its links with the high schools to encourage more youngsters to join. ‘We try to ensure that all young people have a positive experience of hockey by making our training sessions fun and inclusive,’ said Steve. ‘We are also developing an area of our clubhouse for use by young people to support them to feel more included and involved in the club.’ Training is offered to five to 11 year olds on Sundays and 11 to 16 year olds on Tuesday evenings. Those aged 14 and above are also encouraged to join the senior leagues. ‘For the last few years the club has also run #HockeyFest and ‘Back to Hockey’ sessions at the beginning of the season,’ said Steve. ‘These are <strong>En</strong>gland Hockey initiatives and run at many clubs across the UK, often over the same weekend.’ There are a number of talented young people currently playing hockey in the island and a few who are making their way through the <strong>En</strong>gland Hockey Player Pathway, which has performance-focused hockey throughout the summer term and holidays. ‘Over the last decade we have also seen a few young people represent <strong>En</strong>gland at age group 1,' said Steve. In recent years the U16 boys and girls have played in the <strong>En</strong>gland Hockey National Championships. ‘There are a number of other young people who are currently making their way into the men’s and ladies’ first XI teams and showing great potential.’ Guernsey Hockey has plenty of established playing talent as well, with four club members representing <strong>En</strong>gland in Masters’ world cups over the summer – Steve Waldrom, Andy Walley, Jayne Carter, and Adrian Gidney. Steve said he loves playing hockey because he has met so many fantastic people, both at home and at other clubs. ‘We have a great facility and a brilliant atmosphere in the clubhouse. Hockey is a high-energy sport and competitive on the pitch. But once we cross back over the yellow line, we all have a drink and a chat together in the clubhouse.’ As all hockey is played on the same pitch at Footes Lane, there is an opportunity to get to know players from other teams within the Guernsey Hockey family on game day. ‘That, I think, is a real difference to playing for a club in the UK where you may only get to interact with other members on rare occasions throughout the season. In Guernsey, it really doesn’t matter what team you play for – well most of the time anyway,’ he said. For more information about Guernsey Hockey email steve@guernseyhockey.com, call 07781 161213, or you can find Guernsey Hockey on Facebook. IMAGE ©GUERNSEY HOCKEY 102 <strong>En</strong> <strong>Voyage</strong> | Aurigny’s Magazine
GUERNSEY HOCKEY HAS PLENTY OF ESTABLISHED PLAYING TALENT AS WELL, WITH FOUR CLUB MEMBERS REPRESENTING ENGLAND IN MASTERS’ WORLD CUPS OVER THE SUMMER 103
Change language