“We were devastated”: Hockey club facing uncertain future over their home

Risca Hockey Club have played at Risca Leisure Centre for more than 40 years but now face an uncertain future after the council handed it a months notice to find a new home.

On Sunday July 9, Risca Hockey Club were told with no prior consultation that their AstroTurf hockey pitch would be replaced by a 4G pitch, unsuitable for hockey.

After a social media campaign to reverse the decision, the council has now announced the club, which has more than 100 players, can remain at the leisure centre for this season at least, but is yet to guarantee a future for the club in Risca.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer about the news, club captain Sinead Walker said: “We were devastated initially. There were lots of tears amongst us as you can imagine.

“To us, the decision came out of nowhere. We had been in contact with the council last season to get some minor things sorted with the pitch, such as new lines painted on, but to hear that it would be getting ripped up and we had to move with no warning was a shock to say the least.”

There are currently only two hockey pitches recognised by Hockey Wales in Caerphilly County Borough to play at a league standard, one at Sue Noake Leisure Centre in Ystrad Mynach, and the one in Risca.

Ms Walker continued: “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.

Pre-season for the club is set to begin in August, with the league running from September through to April. However, Ms Walker warned that there may be no season at all if the council does not intervene.

“We’ve actually been told by the league that if we don’t update our pitch before the season we won’t be eligible to play.

“We’re only asking for a few simple things and without it you’re going to see boys and girls lose interest in sports at a time where we should be getting active.”

When asked about the situation at Risca Leisure Centre, 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.

“This is consistent with our approach at other sites within our sport and leisure service to ensure that we are providing modern, fit for purpose facilities that meet the needs of our communities in line with our Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2019-29.

“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.”

The council also added that it will keep the community updated going forward.

For Ms Walker, this news is particularly upsetting, as only a few years ago was the club close to folding: “Around six years ago, due to dwindling numbers, things were looking bleak and we did consider stopping.

“We’ve worked so hard to get numbers up to this level and to have this hanging over our heads going forward is going to be difficult.

“We’ve got meetings with the council coming up and hopefully we can resolve this once and for all.”