Club will celebrate centenary anniversary by moving to a new home
Swindon Hockey Club (Swindon HC) will be celebrating its 100th year during the 2019/2020 season and what better way than forging a new strong community partnership with The Deanery CE Academy in Wichelstowe. It will see the club move to the new south Swindon school location from summer 2019. The signing of the Partnership Agreement with The Deanery CE Academy shows the ambitious plans that Swindon HC has for the ongoing development of the club, school partnership and for hockey in Swindon.
Swindon HC is the most successful hockey club in Swindon providing hockey at every level; new starters, back to hockey, juniors to adults playing top level men’s & ladies regional hockey. The club has a very strong, well established junior setup and players developed through this setup have gone on to play at the highest National League level in England.
Swindon HC has been in ongoing discussions and supporting The Deanery CE Academy’s ambitious plan for their south Swindon site for over 3 years and have worked with England Hockey to ensure the best facilities for hockey can be provided.
Swindon HC are looking forward to being able to use the facilities from summer 2019 and have exciting plans; community engagement sessions, back to hockey sessions and junior summer hockey camps to name a few. This is in addition to a special day to formally open the pitch and start the club’s centenary season.
Jim Towers, Chairman of the club said, “The new facilities available to the club will be a real boost as we enter our 100th year, the close collaboration with England Hockey and The Deanery CE Academy has ensured a great surface to play on. We have worked closely with the Academy and are confident that it is a partnership that will go from strength to strength. Not only will we have use of the pitch but also the social space as well, so it will be a real family club atmosphere. We aim to continue to run satellite junior hockey sessions at our current location in North Swindon for the 2019/20 season.”
The Deanery CE Academy is an 8-form entry 11-18 secondary free school being built at Wichelstowe and due to open in September 2019. Signing the Partnership Agreement between the Academy and the club, Principal designate Linda Culling, added. “I am really delighted to welcome Swindon Hockey to the Deanery. I played hockey myself for them in the past and I am looking forward to a great partnership between us. They will bring the same high quality of hockey to the Deanery that we aspire to in all our activities. Our students will benefit enormously from the coaching they will provide and by being able to watch and participate at the highest level. This agreement underlines our commitment to being at the centre of our community and I hope it is only the first of many partnerships we will form with local club and groups.”
The Deanery CE Academy has a range of facilities that will be available for public use including drained grass pitches, a sport England club standard sports hall and excellent performing arts facilities including a 440 seater auditorium. Any clubs or groups interested in using the Academy should contact Colin Kay on colin.kay@bristoldiocese.org or 07941288475
