MEMBERS of Basingstoke Hockey Club and fans of the sport have been celebrating following the completion of a new pitch at Down Grange, one is the first of its kind in the country.

Work started in January to replace the council-owned pitch and now it is finished users of the facility, which include Basingstoke Hockey Club, can’t wait to start playing on the new surface.

With 22 teams and nearly 500 members, the club is one of the biggest in the country, including 13 adult teams, junior teams and players playing in their 60s.

The hockey club and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council have helped to ensure that members will have access to the latest hockey technology, raising the standard for the sport at Down Grange.

It has now adopted an AstroTurf surface, the same which will be used at the Paris Olympics this year.

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Basingstoke Gazette: The new pitch has been completed at Basingstoke Hockey Club The new pitch has been completed at Basingstoke Hockey Club (Image: Basingstoke Hockey Club)

The Poligras Paris GT zero pitch has been funded by the borough council, and a club spokesperson commended the authority for its 'unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to the growth of hockey has helped to pave the way for this ground-breaking project'.

The decision to install the innovative pitch surface was driven to provide players and teams in the town with a world-class facility that enhances performance, safety and playing experience.

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Chair of Basingstoke Hockey Club, Claire Bowman, said: "Our wonderful club is so excited to be the first in the UK to have this Olympic level playing surface, it will provide our members and the local Basingstoke and Deane community with the ultimate sports facility and we are so grateful to the council for supporting the club’s continued development.

"If there are any members of the community interested in taking up the sport or getting back on a pitch please get in touch through the hockey club’s website or social pages.”

Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: “We are committed to supporting or, where appropriate, investing in sports facilities in the borough to enable people of all ages and abilities to have the best opportunities to be active and experience the other wellbeing benefits of sport.

“The playing surface at Down Grange is used by hockey and football teams and had reached the end of its life. I am delighted we have been able to secure this world-class playing pitch for the borough, it looks fantastic and I know there are many people who can’t wait to get playing on it. This investment will support the many hundreds of players of all ages who use this facility to develop their game, while aiming to give our area top quality sporting facilities.”

The club is planning a new pitch party and fun day at Basingstoke Hockey Club on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, where club members, enthusiasts, residents and anyone in between are welcome to come along, see the new pitch in action, and take part in the celebrations.

More information can be found at poligras.com/news/basingstoke-dry-turf. 

For more information on how to book Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's sports pitches and facilities, visit basingstoke.gov.uk/hire-sports-facilities.