The club’s current pitches were laid in 2011 in anticipation of the London Olympics. The club was selected as a pre tournament training venue and was fortunate to benefit from funding from the Olympic Development Authority.

The pitches have lasted longer than anticipated but it is time for them to be replaced.

The club has now signed an agreement with Polytan to replace pitch 1 this summer. Polytan will install the same pitch surface (Poligras Paris GT Zero) as used for the Paris Olympics last year.

England Hockey have set up a new loan fund and invited the club to participate in its pilot scheme to help fund the cost of the pitch. EH are also planning to replace the pitches at Lee Valley, Bisham Abbey and Lilleshall with the same surface and having the same surface will make the club an attractive choice as a training venue for the upcoming European Championships and EH tournaments generally.

Work is planned to start at the end of July with a view to the new pitch being ready for pre season training.

There is a possibility that we will be able to replace pitch 2 this summer as well but this remains subject to funding and may be deferred until 2026.

More information is included in the chairman’s report as attached to the notice of the AGM.