City of Canterbury Bankstown is now home to an internationally accredited hockey field, one of only a handful of fields in NSW to be recognised by hockey’s world governing body.
Category 3 certification from Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) has been awarded to the synthetic pitch at The Crest in Bass Hill, which means it meets the requirements for regional, state and national competition.
The pitch, which is managed by Bankstown Sports Hockey Club (BSHC), is one of only of four Category 3 hockey fields in the state.
The elite FIH certification follows a $650,000 Council upgrade to the playing surface, including repairs to the sub-base and shock pad, and the installation of a new watering system.
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said he is excited to see local hockey players and beyond take to this new and improved field.
“Canterbury-Bankstown has long been the breeding ground for some of the country’s top field hockey players, including Olympic gold medallist Michael McCann, and Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Toni Cronk,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“Thanks to the huge improvements we’ve made to the playing surface, we now have a word-class hockey pitch that’s ready for competition at the highest levels.
“Bring it on!”
The Crest is the home ground of the mighty Bankstown Boomerangs, with men’s, women’s and junior divisions. BSHC president Ray Veleski said the pitch is now better and safer for play at all levels.
“These upgrades and the international FIH certification are going to help put Bankstown back on the map in terms of premier-level competition.”
“Already, the feedback from local hockey players and other clubs that use our field has been fantastic – they want to come back because they feel the difference.
“I can’t thank Council enough for working with us to make these improvements and I welcome people of all ages and skill levels to try out the pitch for themselves.”
BSHC, in partnership with Council, will be hosting a free hockey clinic on 8 July. To find out more, visit cb.city/HockeyClinic.
To view the FIH certification for The Crest hockey field, visit: https://www.fih.hockey/about-fih/ourmembers/dynamic/australia
