The Day Finally Arrives!
Pontypool Skater Hockey Club
in association with the
Garnsychan Partnership came
together to bring the sport of
In line Hockey to many
new children in the Pontypool area.
The club was given the opportunity to put in a bid to bring the sport of in line hockey to new areas within Torfaen, and, after overcoming many problems a grant of £2250 was awarded to the club.
The clubs Publicity Officer Clare Reid undertook the task of visiting all the Junior Schools in the Garnsychan area and a small group of Pontypool under 10 players kitted up with Clare giving a presentation about Pontypool Skater Hockey Club and the sport in general.
One of the major hurdles the club faced was that the taster days had to take place in the Garnsychan area and the only suitable venue, The Sports Hall in Abersychan Comprehensive School, had been shut to the public for many years. The club were able to get an agreement to hold three morning sessions and now it was all systems go!
As the wekend approached club officials were nervously adding the final touches to show our sport off in the best possible way. Cheryl and Glyn Leek attended the final meetings, Graham Collins and Tracey Davies providing publicity material and other support.
Armed with banners, leaflets, fridge magnets, hockey cards, programmes and kit. Safety netting and boards in place, with clickers ready, the doors opened on Saturday 8th at 10am and we anxiously waited for our first recruit.
What followed was a scene that took us back to the boom time in Skater Hockey, tens years ago, player after player arrived to watch Pontypools 10s, 12s, 14s and the clubs new under 10 girls team play a number of matches, the original plans went out of the window as the new recruits were kitted up. The ten new kits were used over and over as club officials frantically swapped kit. After three hours of action, at least many new children had played and the day was hailed an overwhelming success.The players were invited back the following day and we did it all over again!
Many thanks to the players, club officials, referees and all the parents who helped to make this event such a success.
Could your club hold an open day or go out to a new area and expand its membership?
You may have to set up at a different location to bring hockey to a new audience. We had to transport goals, boards, safety netting. (Fortunately the club owns its own public address system and scoreboard).
You will definitely need KIT.
Pontypool Skater Hockey Club has been established at its local leisure centre since 1996. (Except for a period of 18 months when it was being refurbished)
The club has always trained on Wednesday nights and this has enabled it to promote the slogan 'Wednesday Night is Hockey Night'
The club enjoys exceptionally high awareness amoung children in Torfaen.
