New era for hockey club

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34133, 21 April 1976, Page 10

New era for hockey club

The declining’ roll at Hagley High School in recent years has forced the Hagley Old Boys’ Hockey Club to move its headquarters to the north-eastern suburbs of Christchurch. The club felt it had been getting to few Hagley school-leavers to maintain its status as an old boys’ club and last year it began to look for an area in the suburbs where it could base a new headquarters. The area was not hard to find. Since the Eastern Suburbs club went into recess two seasons ago there has been no men’s club serving that area A survey by the club revealed .20 schools in the area which takes in Shirley, Mairehau, Aranui, North Beach and Wainoni. Included are two intermediate and three high schools. The club applied last year to use the new Canterbury hockey headquarters at Porritt Park as its heme, but this was rejected by the Christchurch City Council. Instead, Hagley was offered Burwood Park which it accepted. It has one ground there this year and hopes to have three next year. Its present headquarters at Ensors Road is

being overtaken by npw buildings for the Technical Institute. During the summer months Burwood Park is the headquarters of the East Christchurch-Shirley Cricket Club and it is the intention of the two clubs to combine to upgrade the grounds and also the pavilion. Because connection with Hagley High School will eventually be lost, the club is also considering a name change and a change of colours. These could come as early as next season. To give the club even greater strength it has had tentative discussions with the Shirley Women’s Hockey Club on amalgamation. Hagley has already been active in the north-eastern area: by coaching in schools. Several club members gave instruction at intermediate and secondary schools last year, and the results of their labours have been shown this season. The club has been able to enter four underage teams. This was one more team than the club had bargained for and has caused problems for the Canterbury Hockey Association’s draw committee. But it is a problem the committee is willing to bear. It recognises the good work Hagley is doing in recruiting young players.