Help Keep Hockey Alive on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight Hockey Club is facing an unprecedented challenge.

Due to prolonged adverse weather, our home pitch at Smallbrook has become unusable. Repeated heavy rainfall has caused surrounding water levels to rise daily, leaving behind layers of silt and mud each time it rains. Despite the tireless efforts of the ground team at Ryde School, the pitch is currently unplayable.

Smallbrook is not just our home — it is the only full-sized astroturf pitch on the Isle of Wight suitable for hockey. With no alternative facilities available on the Island, we are now being forced to look to the mainland to host our remaining “home” fixtures for the foreseeable future.

Why we need your support

Relocating fixtures to the mainland comes with significant and unavoidable costs:

Travel costs for multiple teams, which will effectively double for the remainder of the season

Pitch hire fees at mainland venues

Additional costs linked to umpires and match logistics

Limited access to affordable training facilities for players of all ages

While we are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Wightlink through their Wightlink in the Community initiative, these additional expenses place a huge strain on our small, volunteer-run club.

Who this affects

Isle of Wight Hockey Club supports players across:

Senior men’s and ladies’ teams

Junior and youth sections

A dedicated group of volunteers, coaches and umpires

Without additional support, the cost of simply keeping hockey going risks becoming unsustainable.

How your donation helps

Every contribution — no matter the size — will go directly towards:

Covering increased travel costs for players and teams

Paying for emergency pitch hire on the mainland

Ensuring matches can be played safely and fairly

Keeping hockey accessible on the Island for the rest of the season

How else you can help

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page or spreading the word within the hockey community makes a huge difference.

We are also actively seeking:

Available pitch time on the mainland

Umpires willing to support relocated fixtures

Temporary training facilities on the Isle of Wight (sports halls or 2G astro pitches)

If you can help in any of these ways, please contact us at:

[email redacted]

[email redacted]