I AM writing in response to the article regarding Cleator Moor Astroturf (“Dad’s plea over pitch”, The Whitehaven News, March 20).

As chairman and head coach of Western Lakes Hockey Club, I would like to respond to some of Mr Butterworth’s comments.

Firstly, as a parent, coach and club official, I support the comment that the pitch does need to be replaced, not repaired, as it is not fit for any sport. The surface is in a bad condition and hockey balls regularly lift off the raised lines, causing dangerous situations.

Secondly, I fully agree with the concerns over obesity and support all sports that encourage fitness and social wellbeing.

However, I feel that some clarity on hockey may help with the understanding. Hockey (unlike football or rugby) needs an artificial surface that is flat and there are very few suitable pitches (referred to as sand dressed) in Cumbria. Other than Cleator Moor, the only other pitches are in Cockermouth, Wigton, Penrith, Ulverston, Kirby Stephen and Windermere, and our club travels to these venues on a regular basis for tournaments.

Football and rugby prefer artificial grass pitches of which there are many – there are at least five within a 10-minute drive from Cleator Moor as well as dozens of grass pitches in the area.

WLHC is relatively small compared to many football clubs and this is in part due to the lack of facilities that we have locally. We are unable to join the National League due to both the condition of the pitch and lack of changing rooms, meaning that many of our adult players are forced to travel to train and play with clubs elsewhere in the county.

Although a small club, many of our junior players get selected to play at county level or higher, and this year alone, we have eight players representing Cumbria, and one playing for the North West.

Our players come from a diverse geography including Cleator Moor, Whitehaven, Seascale, Ennerdale, Gosforth, and many choose hockey as they simply don’t like football or rugby.

Responding to Mr Butterworth’s comment that we currently have “a place where we play our sport”, that is correct – but if the surface is changed to suit football or rugby then there is nowhere else we can play, so that would be the end of hockey in the local area.

Rather than trying to force GLL [which manages Cleator Moor Activity Centre] or others to choose which takes preference, local sports clubs should be working together to identify opportunities to develop facilities to suit all users and make better use of existing facilities. Having been involved with WLHC for 10 years as a parent, then coach, I have seen little investment in sports in the area other than football or rugby, and whilst those sports attract larger participants, less popular sports should have the same opportunities to develop.

PAUL MAXWELL
Head coach/chairman
Western Lakes Hockey Club, Egremont