Update
Practical completion of the new pitches took place on the 26th November, just six days after the scheduled completion date. The pitches are now open, and several bookings have already taken place. The formal handover took place on the 8th December.
The new pitches are Tiger Turf Evo Pro, the new dugouts on both pitches are the Commonwealth Games 2022 design supplied by Harrods and the floodlighting was installed by Halliday Lighting using Phillips LED fittings. A new canopy has been installed between the two pitches and spectator shelters have also been installed on the opposite sides of the pitch to the dugouts on both pitches. A corner flag socket system similar to that on the other pitches has been installed on the two new pitches.
A new purpose-built skills area will be installed between the two new pitches on the far side beyond the dugouts in early 2021.
Since the last newsletter Nottinghamshire briefly moved from tier 2 to tier 3 of the coronavirus restrictions before the 28-day national lockdown when the hockey centre was forced to close once again. A small number of bookings were allowed to take place during the lockdown for Nottingham High School (exempt for education) and Great Britain Elite Development Programme (exempt for Elite Sport). Nottinghamshire is now back in tier 3 and the hockey centre is open again but the restrictions mean the clubhouse remains closed except for access to the toilet.
Hockey in the Community
The national lockdown has had a big impact on local, regional and national leagues and it is unknown whether the 2020/21 season will be concluded. The relevant league committees are currently working to try and navigate a route to the end of the season.
The Sunday Mixed league organised by Nottingham Hockey Centre has been cancelled for the 2020/21 season. The remain scheduled fixtures will hopefully take place as friendlies if local restrictions, particularly around travelling between tiers which has an impact on availability, allow them to go ahead.
The December World Class Players camp is due to take place on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd December.
Events
The rescheduled Masters World Cups which were due to take place in August 2021 have now been cancelled due to the pandemic. World Masters Hockey have said the World Cups scheduled in 2022 will be offered to the hosts of the cancelled events.
This year’s Christmas Party events which were due to take place in December have been cancelled due to the virus outbreak.
Repairs and improvements
Further repairs and lamp replacements to the floodlights have been carried out on pitch 1, 2 and 3.
The pitch watering irrigation system on pitch 4 was serviced in November by Paul Graham at Irrigation Technology.
As part of the refurbishment of the former football changing rooms, a further 10 infra-red HD CCTV cameras have been installed to cover that side of the clubhouse and the entrance to pitch 5 & 6.
The entire car park and roadway has been re-lined as a finishing touch to the pitch 5 & 6 project. A new pedestrian crossing has been painted across the road to allow pedestrians to access the new pitches safely when moving between the clubhouse and the new pitches. Two further signs have also been installed to warn drivers about pedestrians crossing the road.
A new electric vehicle charging point has been installed by Nottingham High School near to the entrance of pitch 5 & 6 for the use of their estate’s vehicles. The charge point is not available for public use.
The road drain near to the statue has collapsed and is no longer draining properly. This is due to be repaired in the coming weeks.
In December last year a number of metal railings were damaged in an accident involving a tractor in the City Council’s yard next to the front entrance of the site. With the help of Phil Kirk and the probation team the railings have now been replaced and installed. The section of laurel hedging which the railings fell on to will be replanted over the coming weeks.