Being the first hockey club in Gloucestershire to achieve England Hockey’s new ClubMark accreditation is definitely something to be proud about, and Lansdown Hockey Club have just done it.

“It puts the parents’ minds at rest that we have all of the appropriate procedures in place, creating a happy and safe environment for their children to learn hockey within,” says Ian Matthews, the club’s chairman.

“We have been working hard to demonstrate all the criteria needed for ClubMark accreditation, and are delighted to have now completed the process.

“We have been working closely with England Hockey to achieve this as quickly as possible. To be the first club in the region to get there is an added bonus.

“We want to provide the best possible experience for our members, especially relating to the development of younger players.

“The work we have put in to gain ClubMark accreditation as soon as we can is a sign of our commitment to this goal.”

This isn’t all the club have to be proud about though – they are so much more than just a competitive hockey club with a busy schedule.

“We often describe ourselves as a hockey family,” says Ian, who is proud of the club’s ethos.

“We’re all-inclusive and cater for all ages and abilities. It’s always nice to win though. We had three promotions last season.”

The number of members at the club reflects their welcoming attitude.

“We have over 300 members,” Ian adds. “There are four teams each for men and women as well as a thriving juniors’ section, with teams from under-eight to under-16 level.”

This covers a huge range of ages, too.

“Members range from eight all the way up to 64,” says Ian.

“The younger juniors compete in all the Gloucestershire Hockey Association tournaments and the older ones in leagues further afield.”

Also deserving praise is the volunteer structure set-up.

“The volunteers and parents display a huge amount of commitment,” Ian adds. “Without them, we would be unable to do what we do. They give up their valuable time for the love of our fantastic sport.”

When asked about hopes for the future though, Ian explains that he wants “to keep growing and continue to be a competitive club”.

Watch this space, because they are likely to achieve this.