Marlow school and club submit joint hockey pitch plan

1:10pm Tuesday 10th February 2009

By James Nadal

MARLOW Sports Club are hoping to celebrate their hockey team's centenary by announcing a return to playing in their own grounds.

The club have submitted plans for a floodlit all weather pitch, in a joint project with Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, which have received backing from England Hockey.

The new playing surface would be built on a currently unused area of the club's grounds in Pound Lane, Marlow.

JOhn Fordham, Marlow Sports Club chairman, said the plan is “critical” for its future.

He said: “It would make a huge difference for the club. It's a win win for everybody in Marlow because it's a beautiful centre which will support youth throughout the town.”

Graham Sweet, chairman of the Hockey Club,which is 100 years old later this year, said: “It's very important to provide a multi-sports facility for the town and the idea is to have something for use by the whole community.

“We are looking to nearly double the amount of children who are using the facilities here.

"At the moment hockey isn't played here and it will allow much more chance for kids to play through the afternoons and the evenings as well.”

Mr Sweet said the move would mean a “big increase in revenue coming through the ground” with more people using the clubhouse bar.

Dr Peter Holding, headteacher at Sir William Borlase's School said he was “very excited” about further links with the club, who already host their cricket matches.

He said he welcomed the opportunity to “further improve” its hockey heritage: “Both organisations have long and distinguished histories for hockey.

"SWBGS has achieved national recognition, both at team level and at individual level, where we have several current international players, and former Borlasians have played for GB at previous Olympic games.”

He added: “We believe also that not only would this project provide substantial additional sporting opportunities for our own pupils, it would also be a huge boon to all local school sports men and women.”

The club believe it has widespread support for the new all-weather pitch and are hoping it will allow them to make further redevelopments such as modernising the pavilion.

It has received backing from Elaine Jewell, Wycombe District Council's head of community services, and Emma Hewitt, development officer for England Hockey.

She said: “We are fully supportive of any new pitch scheme in England and the more all weather pitches, the better.

“A lot of pitches are used by football now so the chance to play hockey is much reduced.

“It has quite an impact on how the clubhouse survives and this will be a really good move for the club. ”

The plans could go before Wycombe District Council's planning committee at the end of March.

If it is approved, club officials hope the pitch will be in place before the end of 2010.