Basingstoke Hockey Club will soon be celebrating the launch of a new pitch, one which will be the first of its kind in the country.
With 22 teams and nearly 500 members, Basingstoke Hockey Club is one of the biggest hockey clubs in the country with 13 adult teams, Junior teams and players playing in their 60s.
The decision to install the innovative pitch surface was driven to provide local players and teams with a world-class facility that enhances performance, safety and playing experience.
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By adopting the same astroturf surface as used at the Paris Olympics this year, the Hockey Club and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council have helped to ensure that members will have access to the latest hockey technology, raising the standard for the sport at Down Grange.
The Poligras Paris GT zero pitch has been funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, whose 'unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to the growth of hockey has helped to pave the way for this groundbreaking project.'
Chair of Basingstoke Hockey Club, Clair Brockbank, said: "This tremendous development creates a wonderful playing surface and surrounding safety features to help make the Club compliant with new safety regulations.
"It means we can now expand and offer more opportunities to new members who would like to try out this incredible sport.”
Leading sports facilities consultants, Surfacing Standards Limited and expert installation partner, AS Sports Systems Limited have recently started the work, with the club hoping to have the facility ready for use by Easter 2024.
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Cabinet member for sports, leisure and culture, Cllr Kerry Morrow, said: “We are committed to investing in council-owned sports facilities in the borough to enable all our sporting stars, from those playing and performing at the highest level to those just setting out on their sporting journey, to have the best opportunities to thrive and succeed.
"The playing surface at Down Grange Sports Complex used by the borough’s hockey and football teams had reached the end of its life. I am delighted we have been able to secure a world-class playing pitch, the first in the country, which will be used during the Paris Olympics.
"This investment will support the many hundreds of players of all ages who use this facility to develop their game, while also putting Basingstoke and Deane on the map for top-quality sporting facilities.”
More information can be found at poligras.com/news/basingstoke-dry-turf
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