Kids’ hockey programme is motoring with BMW
Uddingston Hockey Club have been given a major boost after agreeing a three-year sponsorship deal with car dealer Douglas Park BMW.
The long-established dealership will provide main sponsorship of the club’s in-school coaching programme, which currently sees four full-time club coaches going out into the community to provide taster sessions in various schools.
Different classes are being included each term, with the aim of establishing lunch and after-school clubs.
The agreement with Douglas Park BMW has allowed the club to expand the programme to allow a further 15 primary and five secondary schools from South and North Lanarkshire and Glasgow’s east end to take part.
This means over 18,000 different children are being given taster sessions over the full school year.
The first term, August to October, of the Douglas Park in-school programme is now complete and got off to a flying start, with the focus on p5-7 and first year pupils, which has seen the establishment of 32 lunch or afterschool clubs, with number ranging from 25 to 70 per clubs, and attendance only limited at times by the school’s own facilities.
David Goodfellow of Uddingston Hockey Club said:“this fantastic agreement with Douglas Park BMW has also allowed the club to offer the chance for each school to utilise our world-class hockey pitch, based at our grounds in Uddingston.
“All schools now have the option to use the club’s own facilities for in-school taster sessions or to hold after-school clubs at the facility, with coaching and transport being provided to not only enhance the quality of the experience and coaching, but also to allow the pupils to see the facility they would attend if they decided to then progress from school clubs to Uddingston Hockey Club’s own youth coaching sessions on a Tuesday or Thursday, which run from 6pm to 8pm.”
The second term, October to December, will see the beginning of inter-school matches for P6 and 7 children, where schools will compete head-to-head to be crowned the top school within the programme.
Uddingston will also continue with the renowned school festivals for P4 and 5 pupils, in which more than 500 children will take part over three days.
David Goodfellow added: “Uddingston Hockey Club would like to thank Douglas Park BMW for their support, without whom they could not deliver such an extensive and rewarding programme, encouraging not just participation in the sport, but also promoting an active lifestyle and social interactions across the community.”
Anyone who is interested in any aspect of Uddingston Hockey Club can visit their website at www. uddingstonhockeyclub.co.uk or email: uddingstonhc@gmail.com.