Wychwood Ladies Hockey Club

Wychwood Ladies Hockey Club is a club that supports and develops players from the local community. Cokethorpe School provides the club with free use of facilities to ensure the club has a long term home. With an entry age point of thirteen, it is also an ideal club to feed young players in to from both Cokethorpe and other local schools including Wood Green and Henry Box.

Aims

The aim of the partnership is to provide the Club with a secure and long term home from which it can continue to develop hockey in the local area. The challenge of finding and paying for astro turf pitches that are available to use on a regular basis is significant and crucial to keeping any club going.

The pitches and facilities are a perfect fit for a club the size of Wychwood and the mutual support and respect that exists between the club and Cokethorpe are essential to the success of the partnership.

The Club offers hockey to a wide range of local residents aged from thirteen years upwards. Players are sourced from local schools as well as members of the wider community.

Background

The relationship started when a parent who played for the club identified Cokethorpe as a perfect home ground at a point when the club was looking for new grounds.

The relationship has grown from strength to strength since that first season.

Resources

The partnership involves the Club using Cokethorpe facilities at no cost. This includes the use of the school’s double astro turf pitches and changing facilities. Cokethorpe also prepares the pitches before each game including line marking and the provision of goals and flags.

The grounds at Cokethorpe also allow for ample parking and a very safe environment for both players and spectators.

Impact

The provision of grounds at no cost ensures the continued operation of the Club. The benefits to the wider community are extensive including providing an opportunity for players of all abilities to play hockey, to encourage girls to stay active and offers an affordable sporting opportunity.

Pupil Involvement

The club welcomes players from all local schools from the age of thirteen upwards. Girls from Cokethorpe, Wood Green and Henry Box all play for the club.

Frequency

This is an ongoing arrangement with all home fixtures played at Cokethorpe. Pre-season training throughout August also takes place at Cokethorpe.

The relationship has been in place for nearly ten years and it is anticipated that it will continue for the foreseeable future.