STOP PRESS 1

On 14 July 2008 the school governors approved the principle of relaying and extending the astro pitch next summer, ie in May 2009 providing finances are sorted out and the Club raises its bit. (see above - we are good to go!).

STOP PRESS 2

The School have also approved the Club installing dug-outs and an off pitch spectator area. Subject to receipt of two small grants we aim to have this done prior to the start of this league season.

WE NEED YOUR HELP --- dugouts will need to be constructed, so if you have a spanner or a mallet and a couple of hours free on Saturday 23rd August at 9.30am to 11am please help. I will be on holiday so please contact Martin if you can help. Bacon sandwiches and coffee will be provided.

We have fantastic news for the club which is that the school governors will discuss in July 2008 and hopefully approve going ahead with relaying the astro pitch next summer, ie in May 2009. This gives the club the opportunity to increase the length of the pitch at the same time, which will be a lot cheaper than doing the two jobs separately. The estimated cost for this extension is in the region of £60,000.

The second bit of good news is that through Martin’s hard work, we have been awarded a grant of £24,000 by the Hockey Foundation, so we “only” have to raise the balance. We can draw some of this from club funds, leaving a requirement of in the region of £20,000 to be raised.

To raise this money, the committee has decided to run just one fund raising activity from 1st August to 31st Dec 2008. Assuming this is successful, we won’t come to you for funds again for the foreseeable future. The idea will be that each club member donates (you don’t buy it, so that it can be gift aided which means even the tax man contributes) a square of the pitch for £25 and gets a friend/family member to do the same. Those who can’t afford a whole square can club together with friend(s) to donate a square, those who can afford it may wish to donate more than one. The important thing is that the person who donates the money is a tax payer so we can claim gift aid. We have approx 250 playing members, friends, juniors, VPs and umpires who we shall be writing to requesting a donation, so if we divide a 'pitch' into 500 squares, thats only 2 each (1 from you,1 from a friend). Please get involved and do your bit.

We hope that anyone with influence in local businesses, may be able to get them to donate similarly, and they will get a free ad in the fixture card for every two squares that they give us. The copy date for this is early July, advertising copy should be sent to bob@wbhockey.co.uk.

There may be other ways to raise the money to donate, eg through team fines, it doesn’t matter how it is done just so long as it happens! Letters and gift aid forms will be available in hard copy and on the website from 1 August 2008 for you to use, donate and pass on to friends. Watch this space.

Mens and juniors games and training have now finished until we re-start in August. Details shortly. The ladies sides are playing in the Rushcliffe and Beeston Summer leagues and the mens 1sts are also playing in Beeston Summer league.

All enquiries about joining the Club for next season please contact geoff@wbhockey.co.uk or Junior enquiries to bob@wbhockey.co.uk

After all the good news on the pitch and development front, there's good news on the social side too! September 6th 2008 is going to be a special occasion for the club. Camra have decided to honour us with a 'PUB OF EXCELLENCE' award and will present it to us on the 6th Sept at around teatime.(not many pubs gain this and as far as we know we are the first club in this region so it is very prestigious) All Camra members are invited and obviously all club members are asked to be present to make it a memorable occasion.There will be a good selection of ales (list on beer page) so even if you're not playing that day try and get along at around 4.30/5.00 to show our commitment to real ale and the social side of hockey