Plymouth City Council are neglecting their obligation to provide the very basic "adequate" facilities to play hockey in the city, in fact the only council owned pitch mentioned in their playing pitch strategy as "suitable for hockey" has fallen to a dangerous state of disrepair.

As a hockey community, we are doing what we can to adapt to the lack of suitable playing surfaces. 

At present, there are 7 senior clubs and 4 junior clubs in the city. In the senior sides alone, these clubs field some 36 teams. With home and away fixtures, this means that a minimum of 18 senior games are being played in Plymouth in any given weekend.

At present, these fixtures are split across 5 sites. Plymouth Marjon University (2 pitches), Bull Point (MoD owned), Lipson Co-operative Academy (Academy owned) and Brickfields (Council owned).

To reduce the burden on the council, 5 of these clubs (3 senior and 2 junior, representing 9 of the senior sides) are in discussions to merge as one club based out of one site, Brickfields.

Brickfields is based in the PL1 area of the city which is nationally recognised as a deprived area both in financial and wellbeing terms. As the merged entity, we would plan to reintroduce hockey to the local schools by hosting their games sessions and provide specialist coaching that would allow children to pick up a stick and play for the first time. This would make the sport more accessible to all backgrounds and would encourage sporting activity in this area.

We plan to build this club around a community. Make it family orientated so that a Mother, Father and their children can come and play together, learn together and be active together.

For those involved that don't want to play hockey necessarily, we want to make the off-pitch environment somewhere they are comfortable, where they can watch their children, their brother, sister, Mother, Father or friends play. Protected from the elements and with refreshments available.

We want Brickfields to fulfil it's potential to be a region leading multi sports facility that builds a sports network in the region and encourages those children that we introduce to the sport to remain active in to their adult years and thus promote wellbeing in the area.

We already have a willing partner to subsidise any related costs for those families on low incomes so this really will be a sport then is open to everyone.

So what needs to happen to address the current situation?

1. The current artificial pitch needs re-laying to include new shock pads and carpet. Estimates from contractors suggest this will be around £275k. 

2. A commitment to maintain the playing surface in line with manufacturers guidelines (new carpet every 7 years and new shock pads every 14 years)

3. The outdoor changing rooms need refurbishment and extension to provide a space for spectators, family and friends of participants of all sports to shelter from the weather whilst being able to watch.

4. Users of the remaining facilities; athletics track, grass football and rugby pitches and the petanque area should be consulted to look at their own needs.

It sounds like we're leaning on the council to spend a lot of public money here but in reality, the investment would pay off long term for all of those in the city that will have their well-being improved as a result of the investment. 

Even if the council want to reduce their ongoing commitment, we would be in a position to take on the maintenance of the facility under a community asset transfer or lease which would allow us to access funding from Sport England and corporate partners to improve it.

Plymouth City Council will tell you they have a "Master Plan" for Brickfields. That they are aware the facility requires significant capital investment and it's "on their radar". In reality, the committee established to produce the master plan haven't given a public update since its formation which has been at least 3 years if not more.

Most importantly, we want to build a community around a sports club that is inclusive to all. To build lasting friendships, promote both mental and physical well-being, even if it's just to encourage local residents out of their houses to come and watch some sport and support their local team amongst friends. After the two years we've had, who wouldn't want that?

For all of this, I hope I can count on your support, thank you for reading.