South Berkshire Hockey Club Crowned EuroHockey Institute Club of the Year 2024!

We're thrilled to announce that South Berkshire Hockey Club has been crowned one of two winners of the prestigious EuroHockey Institute Club of the Year 2024. This incredible recognition from EuroHockey celebrates the club's exceptional dedication and outstanding work throughout the past year. 

As part of this fantastic achievement, South Berkshire Hockey Club will receive a €1000 grant to further support their incredible initiatives, alongside a celebratory pennant marking their status as Club of the Year 2024. This EuroHockey award comes hot on the heels of their well-deserved Club of the Year Award at the England Hockey Awards 2024, demonstrating their consistent commitment to excellence and innovation within the sport. 

Why South Berkshire? A Club Leading by Example 

South Berkshire’s win highlights a truly remarkable period of growth and development across all areas of their club. Their commitment to fostering a holistic and inclusive environment is inspiring: 

• Securing Long-Term Stability: Achieving ClubMark in July 2023 was pivotal. It enabled crucial discussions with Wokingham Borough Council, leading to a new 14-year lease and a "Key Partner" agreement that brought a substantial 20% reduction in pitch hire costs. Permission has recently been granted to build bespoke hockey dugouts, and a full clubhouse rejuvenation is underway 
• Developing Talent and Welfare: The club has prioritised its umpiring pathway, establishing a young umpires group, investing in equipment, and running coaching sessions. Their innovative policy of allowing umpires a free game for each game umpired has already helped eight individuals pass their Level 1 assessment. Welfare is paramount, with all junior-facing leadership and coaches now DBS checked, increased injury reporting emphasis, and mental health first aider training completed. 
• Inclusive Community Engagement: South Berkshire is reaching new members through initiatives like Walking Hockey and has led sessions at the local "festival of inclusivity" for children with disabilities, aspiring to offer regular Flyerz hockey in the future. 
• Expanding Playing Opportunities: The club expanded its competitive horizons, entering several cup competitions for the first time, including the England Hockey Mixed Cup which led to forming a Mixed XI. Cup highlights include an overseas trip to Jersey for the Men's 1st XI and reaching the last 16 of the national mixed cup. These new experiences are a significant point of pride, with the club eager for more cup memories in future seasons. 
• Strategic Membership Growth: By identifying and meeting member demand, they formally recognised "social" men's teams and created a Ladies 6th team development group after a successful Back2Hockey programme. These efforts contributed to impressive 13% adult membership and 15% junior membership increases, with total paying members growing by 45 in 2023/24. 
• Enhancing Performance Pathways: The club has made performance teams more accessible to juniors by reinforcing development pathways, promoting coaches from within, and introducing specialist goalkeeper coaching and video analysis equipment. A first team shirt sponsor also funds an extra weekly performance training session. These initiatives helped the club retain dual regional Premier Division status for the first time. 

Rich Beer, England Hockey Sport & Development Director, commented on the achievement: "South Berkshire Hockey Club truly embodies everything we champion within our sport. Their remarkable growth in membership, commitment to inclusivity, and innovative approaches to club management set a fantastic example for clubs nationwide. This EuroHockey award is thoroughly deserved recognition of their outstanding work." 

Peter Forbes, Chairman of South Berkshire Hockey Club, added: “It's a real honour to receive this award, and amazing to see the hard work of our volunteers recognised in such a special way! Their continued efforts have the club making real progress season to season and South Berks could not function without them. This grant money will help pay for new dugouts at the club, one of several long-term projects we're looking to complete to help ensure our continued success and be the best club we can be - we're very excited to see what the future holds. Thank you EuroHockey for your kind recognition of our progress!” 

Inspired by South Berkshire Hockey Club's journey? Discover how England Hockey can support your club development by contacting your local Club Development Officer.