There has been much discussion within Mile End and Whitechapel ward about the fact that local sports team don’t have access to the premier sports facilities in the ward, Mile End Stadium. A good example of the plight is Tower Hamlets Hockey Club, a local team that has been continuously obstructed from accessing council tax funded sports facilities.
Enter Tower Hamlets Hockey Club
Tower Hamlets Hockey Club is a community focussed hockey club that was set up just over two years ago to cater to the needs of the youths from within the borough to provide them a pathway in to hockey within an environment suited for their needs and where they could feel comfortable within.
One of the key reasons the club was created was to engage youths and adults from across the boroughs diverse minority communities in to hockey, a sport typically associated with private schools and the middle class, whilst also desperately failing in participation from those within BAME communities.
The club was inspired to emulate the success of Fred Whitehead at Daneford Secondary School. From the 1970s through to early 2000’s, hockey was a huge success story led by PE teacher Fred Whitehead, who was at what use to be known as Daneford Secondary School, which has since undergone a number of name changes and is currently known as the Mulberry Academy Shoreditch. Under the watch of Fred, the successes included winning the coveted National Championships a number of times, going up against private schools in the process, as well as producing a stream of hockey talent, young boys who went on to play at county, regional and national level across various age groups.
In the two short years that Tower Hamlets Hockey have existed, they have established a Senior Men’s Team that play in the English Hockey League South East Division, and the team have achieved back to back promotions, with the majority of players U18, consisting of kids from the local schools, supported by adults and former hockey players who have come back in to the sport.
They have also established a boys and girls U12 and U14 team, and over the summer they took part on their first tournament, which was a great success. 3 out of the 4 teams reached the finals.
David vs Goliath: Battle of the Hockey Pitches
The Borough is also home to two of the biggest hockey clubs in the country, Wapping Hockey Club and East London Hockey Club, both clubs featuring appx 20 adults men’s and women’s teams each.It appears that neither Club have engaged any of the youths from the borough. Despite the past success, youths in the borough have no pathway in to hockey at primary or secondary school age – with their options further limited due to the closure of the Tower Hamlets Youth Sports Foundation.
Despite the rapid progress made by Tower Hamlets Hockey Club, the fundamental problem that they have encountered is a lack of access to facilities. The borough features two hockey venues, John Orwell Sports Centre in Wapping, and the Astro pitch at Mile End Sports Centre, both of which have recently undergone upgrade works costing us, the taxpayers, almost half a million pounds combined!
Both venues are run by the GLL and overseen by the Councils Sports Team. For over two years Tower Hamlets Hockey Club have tried to book slots at both these facilities for their club training and match requirements, but they have been blocked out of these facilities by the Tower Hamlets Sports Development Team. They have appealed directly to the Mayor, to the Head of Facilities and Services at the Council with no success, response and progress made. Now they have no choice but to make a public appeal, via the political route and media to display their plight.
Due to being shut out of the borough facilities, they are forced to host their home matches outside of Tower Hamlets at Lee Valley Hockey Centre at the Olympic Park – whilst these are incredible facilities and a venue they now consider to be home, it comes with a significant financial burden and they are also given no priority and the last pick of appointment slots due to the other clubs having a preference ahead of them.
Council Grants towards Hockey, circa £500,000.
Local Sports Facilities for Local Teams! Tower Hamlets Hockey Club Needs You!
Tower Hamlets Hockey Club are desperate for weekday evening training sessions. They have given up on a weekend slot for their home fixtures, however in order for them to grow and continue to offer opportunities for the youth of the borough, having access to the Mile End facility is paramount.
Currently, East London HC have the following access to a facility that is supposed to be available for use of the entire community:
Weekday: appx 6 hours of bookings on evenings from 7pm – 9pm, Tues-Thurs
Weekend: appx 5 x 90 minute slots on Saturday for their matches (in addition to appx 3-4 90 minute slots at Lee Valley as well). Appx 2 hours on a Sunday for their youth coaching, which features kids mostly from outside of the borough.
Tower Hamlets Hockey Club have repeatedly asked for is a fair use policy and level playing ground. One organisation simply cannot monopolise these community facilities like the way in which East London & Wapping HC’s have been allowed to do so. The fault in this solely lies with the council. Since their inception, they have had nothing but brick walls placed ahead of them from the Council, whereas these Club’s, amongst the largest and richest in the Country are given free pitch slots!
Tower Hamlets Hockey Club is truly representational of the make-up of the borough, they seen as one of the most diverse hockey clubs and recognised as a truly community orientated hockey club by England Hockey. They currently have zero access to these facilities, and all they are asking for is a fraction of what has been granted to East London HC and to be given a priority over all the private football bookings that the GLL are so keen on, at a facility that has been upgraded for the purpose of hockey use.
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.”
Nelson Mandela
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