Top class! Schools praisedfor pitching in to save club

Banovallum School and Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School have provided support and financial backing to ensure a new all-weather surface will finally be built at Horncastle Hockey Club’s Coronation Walk Ground.

The club has been striving for years to raise money for the ambitious project because the current pitch - which is used by both schools - is worn out after 25 years’ service.

Apparently, the entire project - and the future of the sport in Horncastle - was in doubt because of a lack of funding.

That’s despite officials from the hockey club and the Horncastle Playing Fields Management Ltd securing financial support from Sport England, England Hockey and the National Hockey Association.

The club also launched its own ‘Pitch In’ fundraising campaign, appealing to local businesses and individuals to contribute.

In a statement, the club said: “Fortunately for the community, and Horncastle Hockey Club in particular, the project has been offered a huge boost after receiving support from both of the local secondary schools.

“Banovallum and Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar schools have not only offered their public support and financial backing to replacement of the Astroturf carpet, but Banovallum School will now lead the project.

“Without the support of these schools, the project would not have gone ahead and both hockey and other sports would have no longer been available in Horncastle due to the dangerous state of the existing facility.

“With work to start imminently, the community at large will see a near instant impact. The formation of a satellite hockey club (an extra-curricular group) supported by England Hockey, will see an increase to participation in junior hockey in the area.”

The club also thanked other organisations for their support, including The Jobson Trust, Tesco, the District Lions and the town council, along with several locally based businesses.

The pitch will host other sports, apart from hockey.