Hockey players 'locked out' of national stadium

The Glasgow National Hockey Centre cost £5m to build in time for the Commonwealth Games

Hockey players as young as five have been left without changing facilities after clubs were locked out of the game's national stadium.

The sport's governing body said Glasgow Life had "closed their Hampden" after restricting access to the Glasgow National Hockey Centre (GNHC).

The arms' length council body blamed funding issues.

But Scottish Hockey said the authority was tarnishing its Commonwealth Games legacy by limiting use of the venue.

Kelburne Hockey Club said it had lost a third of its members in the last two years

Players have since been forced to get ready for action at a football centre 100 yards away from the Glasgow Green facility.

The £5m arena was opened for the 2014 Games and was intended to be used as a hub for the national set-up thereafter.

However, it became a Covid testing site during the pandemic and only the outdoor pitches have reopened since, leaving changing rooms, first-aid facilities and a café locked away.

Scottish Hockey's chief executive Barry Cawte said players were being treated as "second-class citizens".

"If this was any other mainstream sport, football or rugby, this would not happen," he said.

"We are all about inclusion and getting young girls into sport, but it is quite clear Glasgow Life do not want to operate it in the long term."

Mr Cawte said the national side was only permitted access in 2022 after highlighting that the closure was affecting their preparations for the Games in Birmingham.

Players have been left without changing facilities at the stadium

Eight local clubs use the arena on a weekly basis.

Kelburne Hockey Club, which has produced current internationals Alan Forsyth and Lee Morton, said it had lost a third of its membership due to the shut-out.

President Ryan Wood said: "We've probably gone down from 300 members to 200 in the last few years.

"We have players turning up from all over Scotland with nowhere to get changed or shower.

"Parents are unhappy because their children are getting changed in a facility across a busy road with mainly adults."

Funding issues

Glasgow Life said it "doesn't have the money needed to reopen the stadium" at the current time, adding that accessing funding would risk the closure of venues elsewhere.

A spokesperson added: "The GNHC is one of many facilities across the country which haven't been able to fully reopen following the pandemic due to funding.

"We want to keep working with the governing body, SportScotland, the Scottish government and other interested parties to find a solution and remain open to offers of support."