Haileybury opens new astro hockey pitch

Haileybury’s new first-class hockey surface opened to pupils at the beginning of this term and has already proved a hit with players.

"The state of the art pitch, installed on the all-weather surface, together with the improved lighting, have been greatly appreciated by the Haileybury pupils," says the Master, Stuart Westley.

"The surface has proved consistent with a better bounce and it is more sympathetic towards limbs and joints. The benefit will be enjoyed by many members of the wider community also who are able to use the facility when the pupils are busy elsewhere."

A big thank you must go to those Haileybury parents who contributed a total sum of £2618 (including gift aid), which was put towards the upgraded lighting for the pitch.

The coach of the girls’ XI, Ian Sanders, says: "The new astro is playing fantastically well. It is soft underfoot and running perfectly smoothly. The team are delighted with it. I’m sure that Haileybury’s hockey will improve even further with this superb new facility."

The £250 000 project was undertaken during the summer holidays and took eight weeks to complete. The old sand-filled surface has been replaced with a new sand-dressed surface.

Says another of Haileybury’s coaches, Andy Searson: "It is a very exciting time to be involved in hockey at Haileybury and we are fortunate to have such a wonderful new playing surface. Hockey has been going from strength to strength in the past three years and this new pitch will further enhance the provision for boys and girls, as well as for the county and regional squads."