Atherstone Adders Hockey Club continues to lead the way in community sport development with a new initiative aimed at building grassroots hockey and making the game more accessible to all.

As part of its ongoing commitment to growing the sport locally, the club has recently supported a group of young leaders to become officially trained and upskilled as qualified hockey umpires. This initiative not only enhances the quality of the game within the club, but also empowers young people by giving them valuable skills, confidence, and new opportunities within the sport.

With generous support from local councillors—Cllrs Keith Barnett, Denise Clews, Ray Jarvis, Mejar Singh, and Neil Dirveiks—the Adders were able to host a dedicated local training session. Their backing was instrumental in making the session possible. The event took place at the Atherstone Sports Club and utilised the TQEA pitch, providing a convenient and community-focused venue.

Chairman Antony Hobbs said, “We're always looking for ways to build hockey in our local community and make it truly accessible to everyone. By training our young leaders as umpires, we're not just supporting the game—we're investing in the future of hockey.”

Special recognition goes to Ben Oldham, the club’s Umpires Secretary, for his outstanding work in securing the funding, organising the training, and serving as host on the day, delivered through England Hockey trained professionals. Their efforts were instrumental in making the event a success.

This initiative is just one of many ongoing efforts by Atherstone Adders to foster inclusivity, personal development, and a strong community spirit through sport.