Le Page intent on giving opportunities to players

'FROM playground to podium.' That is the motto of the island's new hockey development manager, Ian Le Page.

'Hockey has a lot of potential over here,' he said.

'It probably has more people playing hockey per head than anywhere else in the UK. The great strength is the level of participation but our strength can also be our great weakness.

'As hockey expands it needs to be supported, so we've got to put a support mechanism in place. We've got a lot of talented players and what we need now is a structure in place to get the best of it.

'We have to put in a structure that is seamless and flawless so that anyone can get involved. It's all about the players.

'We need to make sure that they have plenty of opportunities from playground to podium.'

The 38-year-old former Grammar School student, left the island for the UK in 1992. Since then he has worked in different aspects of sport development.

His first job was working as a hockey development officer in Sheffield before moving to Milton Keynes to work for England Hockey for five years.

He then became involved with the east region of the English Institute of Sport, working with world-class athletes in such sports as athletics, shooting, triathlon and swimming.

His next role was working with the British Olympic diving team.

He also played in the national hockey league with Doncaster and Bedford.

But after 14 years away, he decided it was time to return to the island.

'From a professional point of view, this was a great opportunity.'

Le Page joins a well-established team with development officer Becky Hubbard and development coach Phil Roussel.

He speaks very highly of them, saying that they are doing some great work on the junior coaching side of things.

They regularly have more than 100 children from six- to 14-years-old attend their Collins Stewart Sunday morning hockey scheme at Foote's Lane.

The PWC School of Excellence has also been a great success and Le Page has some ideas brewing to complement what is already in place.

One plan is for a junior hockey league and will mean clubs having a junior section.

'We need to make sure they've a good foundation so that when they go up to the adults league, they do it with confidence,' he said.

'The future is very bright indeed. What we're doing is not a 12-month project.

'It will take many years to progress and move it on.'

For more information, call the hockey development office on 259553 or email: hockey.development@cwgsy.net

* The Guernsey Hockey Club will be holding its AGM at The Hockey Club on Monday 2 October at 6pm.