We are delighted to announce that our planning application for an Artificial Pitch (Astro Turf) was successful.  It will be situated next to the Wirral Way, behind the Green keepers sheds on what was the top Grass Hockey Pitch on the back field. Thanks to all who have contributed to getting it to this stage, particularly Norman Sutton and Tim Brooker for their tireless dedication. 

We have been successful in the early stages of funding and we hope to bring more news in the near future.  In the meantime the 6 Men’s Teams, 3 Ladies Teams and 2 Junior sides, 130 people, that play and represent Neston South Wirral Hockey Club, every Saturday have something to be excited about and you might see more of them around the place next year if we can get it built over the next 12 months or so.

History

Hockey moved from Grass to Astro Turf in the early 1980’s when Neston was one of the best in English Hockey.  In 1983 the men won, The HA Cup (Equivalent to the FA Cup in Football) and went on to represent England in Europe (Equivalent to the European Champions League in Football) in 1984.  We attracted good players even an Olympic Gold medalist.  The nearest Astro Pitch to us was Liverpool and where we played our games and trained, now we are able to have limited and expensive sessions at Neston Rec, Caldy or Ellesmere Port.  Local clubs like Bowdon got an Astro Turf pitch at their club quickly and soon benefited from having a pitch to train and play games on. Their bar after games is legendry amongst traveling hockey players, it’s busy all afternoon as players stream in after each game, just as it used to be at Neston when we had four games on the grass all at the same time and the players piled into the bar afterwards.

We have struggled since the mid 90’s, as good young players from our club go to clubs with training facilities and subsequently play in a higher division than us. We are bouncing back with plenty of juniors, approx 120 on our books, come to junior training on a Sunday morning!  We are managing to keep hold of them, with good recent performances in the Cheshire Plate and National Vase competitions and now particularly with news of an Astro Pitch coming to Neston.