Take the 25-minute walk from Surbiton train station to Sugden Road, home of the multiple-winning domestic champions over the last decade, and the AA yellow parking signs a minute or so from the ground are the only signs of a major hockey event being held.
From The Surbiton Flyer, the high steet’s pub by the station, all the way down there are no Surbiton scarves in shops or banners erected on lamp posts by the local borough. There’s no jingoistic love for a club which has now racked up nine women’s titles in 10 seasons, while the men have had their share of success and both enjoying European trips.
While many grassroots football and rugby clubs have the sport at the heart of their communities, is hockey, and Surbiton, missing a trick here and happy to stay conservative?
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Yes. This is imperative to raise the image of hockey widely played in this country, but unfortunately deprived of glamour.
Yes absolutely, but until we all – led by England Hockey – start to focus on the infrastructure for families & supporters this will always be pushing water uphill. I love hockey as do my kids, but who wants to watch it standing freezing cold on a school pitch in the middle of nowhere with no facilities open? So I play the game, and get home as quickly as possible to the family. I appreciate the big clubs have a better set up – as do some lucky clubs with a multi-sport facility – but even these are often not designed with supporters in mind. It needs a complete change of mindset & investment strategy.
Currently hockey season is in parallel to Football, which means that all the main sports broadcasters show football 24/7. Currently hockey has so many limitations, more so at grassroots level.. Majority of clubs don’t have their own pitch or clubhouse. During the winter months, it’s cold and usually rainy, so not very conjusive for spectators. Similar to what Rugby did, we need to change hockey season from March to November.. during summer months more people will come out, clubs can do barbecues, create a family atmosphere, there will be no need for floodlights, thus clubs will save money, no matches will be cancelled due to frozen pitches, no frozen hands whilst playing. Better for moms and Dads for sunday morning badgers training. Finally due to no footy on the tele for atleast 2 months, broadcasters may show more hockey.