News for 13 February 2018
All the news for Tuesday 13 February 2018
England men announce squad for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
England at the World League Finals
England have named their 18-man squad to travel to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in Malaysia between 3 and 10 March.
The squad heads out to Malaysia looking to lift the trophy which a number of England athletes won in May 2017 playing as Great Britain.
Australia, India, Ireland, Argentina and hosts Malaysia make up the other sides competing with the tournament providing good preparation ahead of the Commonwealth Games in April.
England head coach Bobby Crutchley said: "We are very excited to head out to Malaysia for the tournament with very fond memories from Great Britain's victory last year.
"The standard of the opposition is very high which will give us strong tests as we build towards the Commonwealth Games in April."
England Squad:
James Albery (Beeston)
Liam Ansell (East Grinstead)
David Condon (East Grinstead)
Brendan Creed (Surbiton)
Adam Dixon (Beeston)
James Gall (Surbiton)
Harry Gibson (GK) (Surbiton)
Mark Gleghorne (Beeston)
David Goodfield (Surbiton)
Chris Griffiths (East Grinstead)
Harry Martin (Hampstead & Westminster)
Barry Middleton (Holcombe)
George Pinner (GK) (Holcombe)
Phil Roper (Wimbledon)
Liam Sanford (Reading)
Ian Sloan (Wimbledon)
Sam Ward (Beeston)
Henry Weir (Wimbledon)
Fixtures (UK Times):
Sat 3 Mar - Australia 10am
Sun 4 Mar - India 8am
Tue 6 Mar - Ireland 8am
Wed 7 Mar - Argentina 10am
Fri 9 Mar - Malaysia 12pm
Sat 10 Mar - Classifications
England Hockey Board Media release
Kookaburras Team Named For Azlan Shah Cup
Ben Somerford.jpg)
Hockey Australia today announces the Kookaburras 18-member team for next month’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Perak, Malaysia.
World number one Australia will take on hosts Malaysia (ranking 12th), Rio Olympics gold medallists Argentina (second), India (sixth), England (seventh) and Ireland (10th) in the tournament which runs from Saturday 3 March to Saturday 10 March.
Each nation will meet each other once in a round robin format, before the finals on Saturday 10 March, with the top two sides to meet in the decider.
The Kookaburras, who won the World League Final in India in December, were last in action in a four-match Test Series against the Netherlands which ended with one win each and two draws.
Australia utilised the bulk of its squad for the Dutch Series, helping formalise selection for the Azlan Shah Cup.
From the World League Final squad, Tom Craig (hamstring), Trent Mitton (thumb) and Flynn Ogilvie (hamstring) all return after injuries, while goalkeeper Andrew Charter and young defender Tim Howard are included after good form against the Netherlands.
Jeremy Hayward is out with a wrist injury, while Tristan White and Matthew Swann are unavailable due to work commitments. Competition for spots has forced goalkeeper Tristan Clemons and forward Tom Wickham to miss out on the final team.
Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch said: “We’ve got a very competitive group at the moment so each selection is tough. It’s a good position to be in.
“The team we’ve selected for Azlan Shah has a good mixture of experience and youth and some of the younger players will experience Malaysian conditions for the first time.
“We’ve retained a large number of the players from the World League Final but we welcome back Ogilvie, Mitton and Craig from injury.
“Ogilvie was a strong performer against a quality Dutch midfield group. He did really well in his first games after almost nine months out, which is a good sign.
“Mitton hasn’t played since the Oceania Cup in October, he was very good last year and we hope to get him back to that form.
“It’s also great to have Craig back and fully fit with us after injury. He looked very dangerous with his pace against the Dutch but he also needs to have control. Charter and Howard have also earned their spots after performing well against the Dutch.”
Batch explained Australia’s strong goalkeeping options meant that Clemons was unlucky to miss out and provided an update on Hayward’s injury.
“We’ve got three good mature goalkeepers and they’re putting pressure on each other,” Batch said.
“This time we’ve gone for Andrew Charter and Tyler Lovell but they need to keep performing.
“Hayward is unavailable due to a wrist injury but we’re expecting him to be available for selection for the Commonwealth Games.”
Batch was excited about the opponents the Kookaburras will face at the Azlan Shah Cup and said there was plenty to be gained from the tournament, where they finished as runners-up in 2017.
“It’s a very competitive tournament,” Batch said. “This year it’s raised up a level again with Argentina being at the tournament, plus the hosts Malaysia and an Ireland side who we don’t play often.
“We’ll play Malaysia, England and India at the Commonwealth Games, so we’ll get a good look at them too.”
The Azlan Shah Cup will be Australia’s final competitive matches before the Commonwealth Games and Batch acknowledged it would help form selection for the final 18-member team for the Gold Coast.
“I think we’ve got a good mixture, not only in the 18 we’ve picked, but in our squad as a whole where we combine the experienced players in the group with our younger players,” he said.
“They’re learning quickly and we want to be able to perform every time we go out on the pitch, so that’s why Azlan Shah is important preparation for the Commonwealth Games.”
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be televised on Fox Sports in Australia.
Kookaburras team for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup:
Athlete (City, State)
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD)
Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT)
Tom Craig (Lane Cove, NSW)
Matthew Dawson (Killarney Vale, NSW)
Jeremy Edwards (Hobart, TAS)
Blake Govers (Wollongong, NSW)
Jake Harvie (Dardanup, WA)
Tim Howard (Wakerley, QLD)
Aaron Kleinschmidt (Melbourne, VIC)
Mark Knowles (c) (Rockhampton, QLD)
Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA)
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA)
Edward Ockenden (Hobart, TAS)
Flynn Ogilvie (Wollongong, NSW)
Lachlan Sharp (Lithgow, NSW)
Jacob Whetton (Brisbane, QLD)
Dylan Wotherspoon (Murwillumbah, NSW) *Plays for QLD
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA)
Kookaburras’ Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Fixtures:
Saturday 3 March 9pm AEDT - Australia v England
Sunday 4 March 11:30pm AEDT - Malaysia v Australia
Tuesday 6 March 9pm AEDT – India v Australia
Wednesday 7 March 7:05pm AEDT – Australia v Ireland
Friday 9 March 7:05pm AEDT – Argentina v Australia
Saturday 10 March TBC – Finals
Hockey Australia media release
Hockeyroos Home In Ahead Of Commonwealth Games
Ben Somerford
Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin knows there’s plenty of work to be done ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games but is pleased with his side’s progress after back-to-back series wins.
Australia rounded out two series against China and Spain over the past month in Perth, with a 4-2 victory at Guildford Grammar Turf on Saturday night.
The Hockeyroos defeated China in the five-game series with three wins, one draw and one loss, while they edged Spain in a four-game Test series with one win and three draws.
The group now enters an intense training block ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April where they face tough opposition with world number two England and world number four New Zealand among the nations competing.
After all, it was New Zealand who knocked the Hockeyroos out in the quarter-finals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, while several members of the current England side were part of the Great Britain team which claimed gold in Rio too.
The Hockeyroos won’t play any more competitive matches before selection is finalised for the Commonwealth Games in mid-March but Gaudoin said there was plenty to work on before they chase a fourth consecutive gold medal.
“We’ve still got a fair way to go before Comm Games,” Gaudoin said.
“Getting international matches is really important for our progression to test ourselves and to know where we sit.
“We go away from this knowing the areas we need to work on and to really home in for six to seven weeks later.”
The Hockeyroos journeyed to WA’s south-west for a camp on Monday before returning to Perth later in the week to resume their training block.
“We’ve got an intense block in Perth,” Gaudoin said. “We’ll go away for a few days for a camp to do some team building activities.
“They’ll come back refreshed and clear on what we need to do to get ourselves ready to get on a plane for the Gold Coast.”
Reflecting on the China and Spain series which were played after a five-week break over Christmas, Gaudoin said plenty was learned and gained ahead of a big year which also includes the World Cup.
“Coming off the Spain series where we were a bit rusty, I thought we improved throughout the China series and started to get some consistency in terms of an overall performance which was pleasing,” he said.
“China are a very good team and we know that, so I think we’ve got a lot of learnings out of it. We’ve been able to home a lot of the tactics we’ve been working on and we’ve been able to put our linkages together with our team and people start to understand what other people need on the field and that’s crucial.
“I thought our press improved and how we were without the ball was excellent.
“That’s how we want to play, we want to put pressure on the opposition. We’ve just got to maximise on those turnovers, so we can actually put some scoreboard pressure on.
“Our set piece wasn’t at the standard we want but these series give you that focus area to work on.”
Gaudoin was reluctant to identify individuals who impressed during the matches but he was pleased to see experienced defender Eddie Bone return after six months out with a knee injury.
“She’s been out for a long time so it’s pleasing to get through unscathed,” Gaudoin said.
“She’s looking good and we’ve got to get her more time on the ball to get her touch back. Being able to play in these matches has been good for her, so I’m very pleased with that.”
Hockey Australia media release
Hockey skipper Manpreet Singh believes India can win medals in upcoming big events
Indian Hockey captain Manpreet Singh - File Photo, PTI
With big-ticket events such as the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Commonwealth Games lined up in what is going to be a busy year, India hockey skipper Manpreet Singh says they have it them to win medals.
A 33-member probables reported at the national camp in Bengaluru on Monday and the energy among the players was evident.
After having ended 2017 by winning the bronze medal in the World League Final in Bhubaneswar, the team began preparations for the upcoming assignments by finishing second in the Four Nations Invitational Tournament in New Zealand, where they faced World No. 3 Belgium, ninth-ranked New Zealand and number 16 Japan.
“We have had sufficient rest, both physically and mentally, and are ready to take on the challenges that lie in front of us this season, starting with the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018," Manpreet said.
The skipper spoke about the importance of preparing right. He said, "We had a good run last year but this year we look to retain our crown at the Asian Games, thereby directly qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
"The biggest opportunity for us is the prospect of winning the World Cup in our own backyard so we will give our all to prepare in the best way possible, starting with the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and then the Commonwealth Games."
During the Four National Invitational Tournament, India ended up conceding 17 goals in eight matches and the 25-year-old midfielder acknowledged the need to work on defensive duties as they prepare for some major tournaments.
"Defence will be the priority in this camp as we look to execute our plans in the back better during crucial stages of a match. However, in the modern game, the efficiency of the defence also relies on how well you can defend as a team and not just individuals or the players playing the role," he said.
Manpreet has represented India in more than 200 matches since making his international debut in 2011 and believes that in order to play consistently at the highest level, it is important to take care of fitness.
"We have a crucial period ahead where we play five important tournaments so it is critical for us to keep working on our fitness levels during Camp as well as when we are on tour. Fitness is of paramount to deliver on the turf, and I believe that this year we have had a good amount of rest to recharge, so we are all are raring to go."
Daily News & Analysis
Caldas and McLeod quick to deflect Awards credit
Belgium Head Coach Shane McLeod was named Hockey Star Awards Coach of the Year together with Netherlands Max Caldas
Shane McLeod has been Head Coach to the Belgian Red Lions since October 2015. In that time, he has led the team of talented players to a silver medal at the Hero Hockey World League Final in 2015, a silver at the 2017 Rabobank EuroHockey Championship and a fantastic silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Having raised his team to serial medal contenders, now he is looking for the big one – World Cup gold.
“That is a big one for our team,” says McLeod, “We have never stood on the podium at the World Cup level. Therefore there is a desire for our group to continue rewriting the history books. We collectively enjoy those challenges.”
For Caldas, the challenge is slightly different to McLeod’s. Where the Belgium coach is seeking to get his team to the top of the podium at a major international for the first time in nearly a century, Caldas is seeking to lift the Netherlands back to where they were just a few years ago. Gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and gold at the 1998 World Cup were the Netherlands' last two victories on the largest international stages, although they have reigned supreme at the EuroHockey Championships, winning in 2015 and 2017.
"This award says a lot about the group of players that I have the privilege working with and the staff that work with the team.”
Max Caldas, Netherlands Men's Head Coach
Caldas and his employer, the KNHB, are hoping that the coach can turn his Midas touch onto the Oranje men in the same way he achieved such success with the women.
But for Caldas this is never about just one person. “It is a very flattering to hear that I am Coach of the Year but it is not the reason why I work as a coach. It is never individual recognition that motivates me. This award says a lot about the group of players that I have the privilege working with and the staff that work with the team.”
Analysing his own coaching performance, Caldas is constantly seeking feedback from the very people he works with. “I have a desire to keep learning, to be very critical about my own performance every day and I look for feedback not only from our staff but also from the players with regards to how I go about my work. I am constantly trying to look for the edges of learning.”
With a challenging year ahead, receiving the award for Men’s Coach of the Year is a great confidence boost. Both coaches are delighted that they have been voted in by their peers and took a second to reflect on the year just gone.
“2017 has been a very enjoyable year with lots of moments to cherish,” says Caldas. “But to pick a standout moment is difficult. I think that different moments come with different lead up stories and details so each one of them is amazing in its own right.”
“It really is a great honour to receive this award,” says McLeod. “I know the coaches that have received it in the past and it is very humbling to now be recognised alongside them. It is also special as it is voted by my peers. These are coaches that all battle on the side lines but each of us know the time and commitment that goes into coaching international hockey. For all of us there is a shared respect of the work that we all do. That is why it has an extra special meaning to me.”
Like Caldas, McLeod also attributes his success to the people around him: “One of my best skills is to surround myself with the best people and then to work hard to get the most out of them. This is a skill I have learnt at an older age and I see the benefits when both players and staff are fully invested.
“Most of my personal investment has been around the learning styles of myself and others. This is an ongoing area of interest for myself and it has helped with the connecting with players who operate on a completely different value systems that I am used to. It is also something that has assisted our team to build a culture that is successful.”
Both Caldas and McLeod had some standout moments in 2017. For Caldas, a great performance at the Rabobank EuroHockey Championships saw his side defeat, ironically, McLeod’s Belgium in a 4-2 victory. For McLeod, it was the Hockey World League Semi-Final in Johannesburg, when the Red Lions won the final 6-1 against European rivals Germany.
“It was not the score line but more the style in which we played,” says McLeod reflecting back.
For now though, Coach of the Year trophy safely stowed, both men’s thoughts will be firmly turned towards Bhubaneswar and the Odisha Hockey World Cup 2018. Caldas says he is “dreaming” about the World Cup already, while McLeod acknowledges that every coach whose team has qualified will have their eyes on the World Cup.
#HockeyStarsAwards
FIH site
Paramalingam Trophy: Olak A champions again
By Jugjet Singh
From left -- MHC deputy president Datuk Dr S. Shamala, C. Paramalingam, Klang HA president Zulkifli Abbas, Olak (A) skipper Nizam Adha, Olak team manager Joseph de Silva.
OLD La Sallian Association of Klang (Olak) (A) defended their title in the Second Edition of the C. Paramalingam Trophy at the Pandamaran Stadium in Klang last weekend.
The six-a side, which saw 10 teams competing, was organised by the Klang Disctict Hockey Association in honour of Olympian Paramalingam, 83.
Paramalingam played for the country from 1956 to 1970.
And in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he scored nine goals and was one of the top scorers.
He coached the National team for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and was the only Asian coach to guide the Asian All Star team.
And he is still actively involved in development around Klang.
"This is a great honour for coach Paramalingam who has contributed much towards the sport from the 50s until today. The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is always grateful to former players and coaches for their commitment," said MHC deputy president Datuk Dr S. Shamala who was present for the event.
Olak A beat Selangor Sikhs 1-0 in the finals, while Olak (B) and Royal Klang Club finished third and fourth respectively.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Quins make Inst suck a Lemon in seven-goal classic
Saturday’s top Ulster Premier clash between Belfast Harlequins and Instonians certainly lived up to its billing as the hosts came from 3-2 down to secure a dramatic 4-3 win with two goals in the last 10 minutes at Deramore, writes John Flack.
Quins got the breakthrough when Robin Quigley took a quick free and set up Luke McClelland who slapped the ball into the net.
Chris Barnes levelled matters with a trademark drag flick to level the score and then, at the other end, Chris Lemon sent a half-volley crashing off the post.
Inst immediately went on the offensive and when the ball fell to Barnes at the top of the D he turned and fired a low reverse past the onrushing Iain Kelly to make the score 2-1 at the break.
After the restart, Quins came out strongly and David Coates made it 2-2 with a powerful drag flick. Inst’s other winter signing, Dane Ward, then made it 3-2 to the visitors when he unleashed a fierce reverse into the roof of the net.
After Quins captain John Metcalfe made a fantastic goal line save to keep the deficit to one goal, Lemon forced a penalty stroke and McClelland made no mistake from the spot to level the game at 3-3.
With time running out, the hosts went on the offensive and won two corners, and from the second of these, Lemon made it 4-3.
As the clock continued to tick down Quins gave away another corner, but with Barnes sending in the shot, veteran goalkeeper Kelly made a crucial save.
This result, while damaging Inst’s title hopes, will keep alive Quins’ hopes of lifting the trophy or at least finishing in the top three.
Bangor remain in pole position after a 3-1 win in Newry, where the away side led 2-0 at the break after goals from Adam Watson and Ryan Burgess.
Newry pulled one back through Matty Russell but Simon Cox replied for Bangor to seal the deal.
In Saturday’s other games, Portadown piled more misery on struggling Raphoe with a 4-1 win at Edenvilla while South Antrim defeated Mossley 1-0.
Meanwhile, Ballymoney have moved three points clear at the top of the women’s Ulster Premier League table after goals from Sara Gardner, Jan Hamilton and Nikki Parke gave them a 3-0 win over Randalstown at the Antrim Forum.
Title favourites Queen’s, aiming for an eighth straight win, dropped their first points of the campaign when they were held to a scoreless draw by Rainey in Magherafelt.
However, the students have played three games fewer than Money and remain title favourites having been denied a win by Rainey keeper Erin Mulholland, who was in unbeatable form.
Elsewhere, champions Lurgan were 4-1 home winners over Banbridge and North Down defeated basement side Portadown 3-0 in the relegation battle in Comber.
That result, helped by two goals from Rachel Lucas, leaves North Down four points better off than their bottom of the table opponents.
Comber coach Peter Whyte said: “In most games this season, we have had spells where we have played good hockey but struggled to maintain it for the duration of the game. But we will, hopefully, use this win as a springboard for the remainder of the season.”
In Senior One, Lisnagarvey had double reason to celebrate as not only did they beat Victorians 3-0 but nearest rivals Ballymena were held 1-1 by Ballyclare.
Top scorer of the day was Jill Kennedy who hit a hat-trick in Priorians’ 5-0 win over Armagh as Ulster hockey’s ‘Derry girls’ stayed in promotion contention.
Men
Ulster Premier League: Belfast Harlequins 4 (L McClelland 2, D Coates, C Lemon) Instonians 3 (C Barnes 2, D Ward); South Antrim 1 (W Phillips) Mossley 0; Newry Olympic 1 (M Russell) Bangor 3 (A Watson, R Burgess, S Cox); Portadown 4 (A Stevenson 3, J Brown) Raphoe 1 (T Orr).
Women
Ulster Premier League: Lurgan 4 (J-A Wilson, C Stewart 2, S McClure) Banbridge 1 (P Haugh); North Down 3 (R Lucas 2, A Kimber) Portadown 0; Rainey 0 Queen’s 0; Randalstown 0 Ballymoney 3 (S Gardner, J Hamilton, N Parke);
Senior One: Ballyclare 1 (J Jones) Ballymena 1 (R Reynolds); Lisnagarvey 3 (R Houston, A Jebb, J Flynn) Victorians 0; Priorians 5 (J Kennedy 3, E Allen 2) Armagh 0; Raphoe 1 (E Harpur) Omagh 2 (A Buchanan, R Shortt)
The Hook
Strathmore’s Onyango claims golden stick in men’s league
By BRIAN YONGA
Festus Onyango of Strathmore University Gladiators (left) tries to evade a challenge from Brian Musasia of Butali during their Kenya Hockey Union men's Premier league match at City Park Stadium on December 2, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Strathmore University Gladiators forward Festus Onyango secured Golden Stick accolades in Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League as the 2017/2018 entered the penultimate stage at the weekend.
The Strathmore forward was unable to add to his 20 goals in his side’s 3-0 loss to Parkroad Badgers on Saturday, but it didn’t matter as his close competitor, Amos Barkibir of Kenya Police, scored once in his side’s 1-1 draw with Butali Sugar Warriors to finish on 19.
Sikh Union Nairobi’s Davies Wanangwe finished on 17 goals after scoring the winner in his side’s 2-1 win over bottom-placed Technical University of Kenya (TUK).
It was a bittersweet experience for Onyango, who will be crowned officially when the season ends on Sunday.
His team Strathmore, which started the season as the defending champions, faltered badly to finish a disappointing eighth with 34 points, 43 behind champions-elect Kenya Police.
The Maseno School old boy admitted his feat would have meant more to him had his side retained their title.
“I thank my teammates and coach for making me the player I am. It is because of them that I was able to reach these heights and it is therefore a team effort,” he told Nation Sport.
His goals also saw him called up to the national team for last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ismailia, Egypt and Onyango is eyeing to reach the 30-goal mark next season.
“We will go back to the drawing board and see where our season went wrong and work on coming back better next season. I want to score more goals and help the team win more titles,” he added.
Barkibir has certainly been the revelation of the season as his goals have helped fire Police to an impressive campaign reclaiming the title after five barren years.
The soft-spoken lad has also been tipped to win the Most Valuable Player award after a glorious season that also saw him debut for the national team at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
With talismanic striker Moses Cheplaiti approaching the twilight of his career, Barkibir, 22, is ready to lead Police to more glory.
“I have learnt a lot from the senior players of the squad and it is because of them that I have chipped in with those goals, it is all down to team work,” Barkibir said.
The women’s accolade will be settled this weekend with Telkom’s Jackline Mwangi (25 goals) and her teammate Audrey Omaido 22 goals in the running.
Champions-elect Telkom face Mombasa Sports Club in their final match.
Men’s Premier League Top Scorers:
Festus Onyango (Strathmore, 20 goals); Amos Barkibir (Kenya Police 19); Davis Wanangwe (Sikh Union 16); Allan Odongo (Parklands 14); Chris Wokila (Greensharks 13); Samuel Wokila (Kenya Police 13).
Women’s Premier League Top Scorers:
Jackie Mwangi (Telkom 25); Audrey Omaido (Telkom 22 goals); Pauline Naise (Amira 22); Rhoda Kuria (USIU-A 19); Gilly Okumu (Strathmore 17)
Daily Nation
$10 million hockey complex for Burnside and Adelaide clubs a step closer
James Gratton
Burnside Hockey Club members Matilda, 9, and Thamas, 11, are looking forward to playing in the southwest Parklands. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens
A $10 MILLION hockey complex in the southwestern Parklands — which will provide a permanent home for two local clubs — is a step closer.
Adelaide City Council has voted to commission plans for two synthetic turf hockey pitches at Park 22, near the intersection of Anzac Highway and Greenhill Rd, after the proposal won the backing of the Adelaide Park Lands Authority.
The complex would be shared between Burnside Hockey Club — which has been without a home base for more than a decade — and the Unley-based Adelaide Hockey Club.
The as-yet unfunded development, to also be shared by the SA United Church Netball Association, would include a two-storey clubhouse, changerooms and parking.
Burnside Hockey Club president Steve Shearer said the complex would help boost the club’s membership.
“We have worked really hard on our club spirit and social events, but we have been limited and lost people to other clubs where they do have facilities,” Mr Shearer said.
“It will very quickly mean that we can consolidate the club and start to really serve the hockey community in our region who want to play.
“We are sure it will bring a flood of young players into our club.”
Burnside Hockey Club, which has more than 300 players, has been trying to find a permanent home since its clubrooms at Kensington Gardens Reserve were demolished in 2005.
It has since been forced to hire pitches at locations including Gepps Cross and Prince Alfred College.
The council’s backing of the Park 22 plan came after a proposal for a similar complex in the southeastern Parklands was shelved.
Public consultation on that plan found the majority of 176 respondents believed the proposal was “not compatible with the existing form and function” of Park 17, including its use by Touch Football SA.
The State Government last year spent $3.2 million upgrading netball courts at Park 22.
Speaking in December, SA United Church Netball Association (SAUCNA) member Daryl Chown said the association was not against hockey moving to Park 22 but said the current plan would not provide it with a “fit-for-purpose facility”.
He said the association planned to increase its membership base by 20 per cent and hoped to install a further four courts by 2025.
“SAUCNA would ask that they consider one playing pitch and one practise pitch with a smaller footprint building,” Mr Chown said at the time.
Eastern Courier Messenger
