Moray hockey club nets cash boost
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE development of youth hockey in Moray has been given a major boost.
Quasar Hockey Club has received £1136 after the long-running Moray Hockey Club made the decision to wind up.
The money will be used to train more young players as coaches, with the aim of ensuring the sport will continue to flourish across the area.
Established in 1995, Quasar is a mixed club with around 90 members, aged from youngsters up to adults.
Training takes place on Wednesdays at Elgin Academy's pitches and Moray Hockey Club members attended the latest session to hand over the cash.
Among them was Jamie Watson, who said: "This is a thriving club with a diverse and growing membership which we are very happy to support."
Moray Hockey Club was established in the 1960s and based in the grounds of Gordonstoun School.
The club thrived for many years and attracted players from across the area but, with an ageing membership, the decision was taken to call it a day.
Quasar coach Pete Bavidge said the club was delighted with the donation, which will be used to train older players to lead sessions with younger enthusiasts.
Mr Bavidge said: "Each session with our junior groups – the Under 10s, Under 12s and Under 14s – is led by an adult coach helped by a player who is under 18.
"It means our 16 to 18-year-old players can pay back by coaching the younger ones. But the training is expensive, so this will be a great help.
"For the younger ones coming through, they can also see it isn't all about playing, but that you have coaching and leadership too.
"We are what I call a self-financed club, so really everything we do is paid for thanks to membership. So this was a great surprise and we are delighted."
In addition to coaching juniors, youth coaches help run sessions for youngsters in other area's of Moray and the cash boost means that can be rolled out even further.
