Replacement 3G pitch in Risca “devastating” news to hockey club

Risca Hockey Club is set to be without a home after the council announced it will replace its current AstroTurf with a new 3G pitch.

Caerphilly County Borough Council has secured £1million to replace the outdated AstroTurf at Risca Leisure Centre.

As great as that news will be to rugby and football clubs bidding for a pitch to play on, the news is a hammer-blow to Risca Hockey Club, who must now find a new home.

This is due to the type of pitch hockey can be played on. As it stands, there are currently only two hockey pitches recognised by Hockey Wales in Caerphilly County Borough as suitable to play at a league standard. These are at Sue Noake Leisure Centre in Ystrad Mynach, and the one in Risca.

The club, who have played in Risca for more than 40 years and have more than 100 players, told Caerphilly Observer that the news is both “frustrating and devastating”.

In response to the hockey club being unable to play in Risca, Shane Williams, councillor for Cefn Fforest and Pengam, said: “This hockey facility is vital for all those who play and seek to play hockey in this part of the borough.

“The fact that there are over 60 children that participate, along with successful senior teams, demonstrate the continued growth and success of the sport.

“The suggestion that these young children should now travel miles to Ystrad Mynach to try and continue their sport beggars belief.

“By concentrating only on rugby and football in Risca, this will inevitably mean that many of these children, and seniors alike, will now be denied the chance to play hockey. And for those that can travel, there is no guarantee of suitable availability at Sue Noake given its current usage.”

The £1m to fund the new pitch has been provided through the Welsh Government’s Community Focused Schools Capital Grant, as pupils of Risca Comprehensive School will also be able to use the facility.

It’s unclear when the work will begin, but the £1m must be spent by April 2024, according to the Welsh Government.

“This is our home”

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer previously about the possibility of having to move, Risca Hockey captain, Sinead Walker, said: “We were devastated initially. There were lots of tears amongst us as you can imagine.

“They recommended to us that we move to Sue Noake but that’s a nine-mile trip and we’d lose half of our players.

“Worse still, we’d lose the community spirit that we have in Risca. This is our home and has been for 40-years. It’s been mine personally for 25.”

When asked about the situation at Risca Leisure Centre in July 2023, Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The current AstroTurf pitch is approaching the end of its lifespan and the council is currently exploring options at the site.

“To ensure that this facility continues to provide high quality facilities for both school and community use, improvement options are currently being explored. Ground investigation works will take place over the summer period which will then allow us to share proposals on the way forward once this work is concluded.”