A new grassroots hockey initiative to revitalise youth hockey, South Leicester Youth Hockey (SLYH), has been launched to offer children an affordable and inclusive introduction to the sport.
The programme is led by volunteer coaches and backed by current and former international and elite-level hockey players. Based at Leicester Grammar School, SLYH kicked off the programme in March and is open to children between 5 and 12 years of age.
As a name, South Leicester Youth Hockey is not new; a legacy junior club of that name ran for a number of years, and launched the careers of some top players; notably, long- established England C GB international David Condon and former international player Kerry Williams, both of whom are ambassadors of the programme.
Willaims said: “Incredible that South Leicester is back up and running. I am keen to do all that’s within my gift to support bringing hockey to as many young people as possible.”
The lead coach and one of the founders of the programme is Harvinder Bhuhi who headed a highly successful junior section at Leicester Hockey Club that saw their age-group teams reach national finals over a period of a few years.
“Our mission is to make hockey accessible, enjoyable, and inspiring for all. By focusing on creativity, games, and enjoyment rather than competition, we’re helping young players build confidence, skills and friendships.” said Bhuhi.
As part of its commitment to broadening access, SLYH is actively seeking partnerships with local primary schools and community groups to offer the opportunity to enjoy hockey in untapped and underrepresented areas, helping to make the sport more inclusive and reflective of the wider community.
David Condon, Rohan Bhuhi, Tom Moorhouse and Yuvraj Bhuhi have all developed their hockey from initiatives in the area.
