Ask any hockey player about their preferred playing surface and the answer is invariably a synthetic pitch. Yet for hockey players on the Yorke Peninsula who were playing every game on grass, having a synthetic pitch was just a dream…until now!
The Kadina Hockey grounds have been transformed with the construction of a brand new synthetic hockey pitch.
According to the Kadina Hockey Club, the latest addition has transformed hockey on the Yorke Peninsula.
“The number of hockey players at the Kadina Hockey Club had been dwindling for years," the Club said.
"It is no longer acceptable to play hockey on grass, and it was hard to attract new players to the sport.
"The style of game and skills used on grass are completely different, and our players were disadvantaged when we went to Zones and State Championships.
"The new synthetic pitch has enabled us to attract and retain more players.
"We’ve seen players who haven’t played for years come back to hockey just so they can play on the pitch.
"It’s a lot smoother and safer and enables our young players to develop their skills on the best surface possible.
"Being right on a main road in Kadina, it has created a lot of excitement and is a jewel in the crown of our sporting infrastructure which promotes a sense of community pride.
"It has given us hope that our sport can not only survive but thrive, and continue to give the young people in our community a wide variety of high quality sporting options."
The State Government grant of $117,000 through the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing's (ORSR's) Community Recreation and Sports Facilities Program was the catalyst for further funding through the Copper Coast Council and the Federal Government, enabling the $1.17 million project to be completed.
"Without the initial support from ORSR, this project would have never got off the ground - we could not be more grateful for the support,” the Club exclaimed.
The Kadina Hockey Club is now living the hockey dream!
