Swelling youth ranks put Rotherham Hockey Club on the front foot as centenary looms

More than a decade ago the club was forced to relocate to Sheffield, weakening links with local schools and leading to a decline in the youth section.

But since returning to its traditional base at the Hallam University Sports Park on Bawtry Road, Rotherham have re-built to the extent they have scores of young players enjoying the game.

The renaissance has been so strong that coach James Swinscoe has been nominated for a national award.

"We have about 200 kids now. It is all very youth orientated,” chairman James Thomas told the Advertiser.

"We have a team in every age group whereas in previous years we have been sharing players with other clubs.

"So many of our players are only a year or two away from senior hockey that it means we’ve a ton of players coming through.

"It also helps that we’re a club that kind of retains players for long durations. People go to university and come back.”

The hockey club has firmly re-established itself back in schools.

Last season it delivered coaching blocks in nine schools while also attending local festivals, tournaments and public events across the town.

Rotherham have also been helped by initiatives from England Hockey to get more kids interested in the sport.

"This time last year the membership model was changed,” explained James. “Around £3 from every member in the country goes into a pot that is exclusively for schools coaching. There are tools available for clubs to tap into that and we just jumped on it from the off.

"We have formed a really good relationship with the Rotherham School Games organiser, Ross Inglis. He understands our club, we understand what they do and we help them too.”

As previously reported, Rotherham men’s first team were recently promoted and its other senior and junior teams continue to do well.

The club has six senior sides, split evenly between men and women, alongside two development teams designed to bridge the gap between junior and adult hockey.

But it is the club’s swelling ranks of young players that are as big a measure of progress.

Added James: “I feel that in Rotherham hockey has become more than a sport. It has become a community held together by volunteers, families and generations of players determined to leave the club stronger than they found it.

"With our centenary coming next year that is a good position to be in.”