Newcastle hockey team’s glory hunt could be cut short

Mar 11 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A CASH-STRAPPED hockey club may be forced to pull the plug on its bid to bring silverware to the region.

Members of the Newcastle Hockey Club have totted up more than 1,400 miles in an effort to contest the England Hockey Vase.

And now the team could be made to quit the competition as the burden of travelling expenses takes its toll.

So far the team has travelled to fixtures in Manchester and Walsall, and this Sunday they have been drawn to play East Grinstead, in West Sussex, in the quarter-finals of the competition.

But the club, who are the only northern team left in the competition, fear their glory blaze could be cut short due to a lack of cash.

And last night captain Liz Turner said the team was desperate to continue their run.

She said: “The whole team is committed to going as far as we can in the competition and we’ve put in some great performances so far,” he said.

“We are all really enjoying the campaign but reaching the latter stages of the competition is putting a strain on the players and club’s finances.”

The Vase, described as hockey’s equivalent of the FA Cup, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the country. So far Newcastle have played three fixtures. After thumping Urmston 7-1 in the second round, they then edged out the Manchester Mantos 2-1.

And by beating Bloxwich, in Walsall, 2-1, they have been handed a game in Sussex.

The Tyneside outfit have won the competition twice before, and are one of the region’s biggest hockey organisations.

But efforts to win cash from England Hockey have been unsuccessful, leaving the players stranded.

And last night central midfielder Rebecca Radley, who works for Northumbria University’s Team Northumbria, urged people to help them with their push for cash. The 26-year-old, from Tynemouth, North Tyneside, said: “We have now had three out of four away draws and we are the only club North of Staffordshire left in this competition.

“We are having to travel at lot more than any other club. One team has had all home draws and most have travelled less in total than we are having to each round.

“The trip to London could cost us as much as £2,000 for everything. We want to be able to bring home the trophy but we need help.”

Anyone wanting to sponsor the club for this week’s fixture should log on to www.newcastlehockeyclub.org.uk and click on the “Contact Us” icon.