Hockey club recovers from floods to mark 125 years

Ladies' captain Marielle Chamberlain said a lot of junior members had joined

A hockey club has celebrated its 125th anniversary after recovering from devastating floods that left it without a home.

Huddersfield Dragons Hockey Club lost its artificial pitch at Lockwood Park in 2022 and had to play on fields at local schools and at Wakefield and Halifax hockey clubs.

"We had to keep going and make it work," said treasurer Clare Estlin.

The club now has a new base at the Leslie Sports Foundation's Storthes Hall complex, in Kirkburton, and is "growing stronger than ever".

The pitch at Lockwood Park was destroyed when the River Holme burst its banks

An open day was held at the new ground on Sunday to celebrate 125 years of history.

The club is one of the oldest in the north of England and incorporates four women's teams, four men's teams and a junior section for children aged four to 15.

Mariella Chamberlain, the ladies' captain, said the newest women's team had only been recently established.

"It is the first time since I've joined the club that we've had the opportunity to have four teams," she added.

The club has established its fourth women's team

The club said it was looking forward to "continuing to nurture young talent" and "grow participation".

In a statement, it said it also wanted to regain its identity as a "hub for local sport and community life".

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