Basingstoke Hockey Club was buzzing with excitement this week as the Great Britain men's hockey team arrived at the Down Grange sports complex for a day of intensive training on their new turf surface.
The state-of-the-art playing field, recently installed with the backing of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, is similar to the conditions the team will face in France.
This made it the ideal location for their pre-Olympic preparations, allowing them to get a feel for the surface they'll compete on at the upcoming Paris Games.
The entire team, along with their coaches, trainers, and management, spent Tuesday, May 7, at the Basingstoke pitch honing their skills and strategising for the upcoming tournament.
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Head coach Paul Revington couldn't hide his praise for the facilities: "The pitch played very well; we came here expecting it to be newish and at the end of the day, it played perfectly."
Basingstoke Hockey Club vice-chair Claire Bowman said it had been an "absolute privilege" to welcome the GB Men's Hockey Team.
"The opportunity to host such an esteemed team for their pre-Olympic training has been a tremendous honour for our club," she said.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for their support in providing this world-class facility."
The visit wasn't just about training for the team. It was also a special occasion for the club's community. Members, representatives from the council, and excited children from the area were all invited to meet the players after their session.
The atmosphere crackled with energy as fans got to chat with their sporting heroes, collect autographs, and share the anticipation building towards the Olympics.
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This experience has been nothing short of mind-blowing for everyone involved and we can’t thank the squad enough for all the time they spent after a long hard day of training to meet the club members," added Claire.
"To have the Great Britain men's hockey team train at our club is a testament to the quality of our facilities and the warm hospitality of our community. We wish the team the best of luck in the FIH Pro League Tournament in London next month and of course at the Olympics in Paris and will be cheering them on every step of the way."
Cabinet member for sports, leisure and culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: “It was fantastic to welcome the men’s Great Britain Hockey squad to our council-owned pitch at Down Grange. Our investment in this pitch is part of our commitment to support sport and being active in the borough. We are delighted we have been able to provide a playing surface that meets the needs of all ages and abilities from grassroots players to those competing in the Olympics in Paris. We wish the team all the very best in their upcoming competitions.”
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