Tamworth celebtate Club First honour
Posted by on 23 February 2011
TAMWORTH Hockey Club has received national recognition from the England Hockey Board after being awarded ClubsFirst accreditation.
That is a scheme for clubs who can demonstrate that they are working towards minimum operating standards.
Hockey clubs achieving the ClubsFirst award are recognised as working towards providing a safe, effective and child-friendly hockey environment.
All clubs achieving ClubsFirst also achieve the Sport England Clubmark accreditation.
The award means Tamworth Hockey Club are in the best-possible position to take advantage of the expected surge in interest in the game when the London 2012 Olympics take place – and also the current resurgence of the national team at European and international levels.
The process of achieving ClubsFirst status took the whole of last season.
The two-stage accreditation procedure meant the club had to produce an assessment file which contained all the policies and procedures required to obtain the mark.
"We are the only club outside of the national hockey leagues in Staffordshire to obtain this "
It also had to undertake an assessment day on 5 May 2010, judged by Nisar Chaudhry, an England over-40s player.
Jez Holloway, chairman of Tamworth Hockey Club, said: "After a lot of hard work from all members we are pleased to announce we have achieved ClubsFirst accreditation.
"We are the only club outside of the national hockey leagues in Staffordshire to obtain this.
"We are now aiming to set up a School Sports Partnership (SSP) with Rawlett High School as a result, as well developing our close relationship with QEMS through Neil Gough (head of PE)."
