It has been an exciting week for Bedford Hockey Club, as England Hockey’s proposal to move to Step 4 of their Return to Play plan was authorised by the government.
Whilst there has been some socially distanced activity at the Club for a number of weeks now, this is the first opportunity players have had to resume competitive action.
Under strict guidelines, it is now permissible to close mark and tackle other players.
This has allowed sessions to step up a gear, in the work-up to the league season, and means training for all 14 of the senior sides begins in earnest this week, as do Walking Hockey sessions.
England Hockey continues to push on with plans for the league season to commence, as usual, in September, and several pre-season friendly fixtures have, also, been pencilled in.
A further highlight of the week is that it will now be possible for Bedford Ladies’ Over 35s squad to continue with the Quarter Finals of last season’s postponed England Hockey Investec Championship play-off.
This match will take place at the Club’s Chester Road ground on Sunday 23 August, at 12.30, when it will see the team take on Maidenhead.
The squad has been training hard for the match and, with Bedford fielding a number of international master’s players, they are hopeful of a win, taking them on into the semis, and a step closer to the finals at the Nottingham Hockey Centre on Sunday 13 September.
Photos: Bedford Ladies’ Over 35s preparing for Sunday’s match.
Words: Jean Fitch
