New pitch is state of the art

A hockey club in Cannock has become the country's first to have a new pitch installed which can be played on wet or dry.

The Tiger Turf WETT pitch has been installed at Cannock Hockey Club and a sneak preview is being given to invited guests on Friday.

The pitch will be played on for the first time officially on Saturday when Cannock, runners-up last year, take on league champions Reading in the Slazenger England Men's Premier League.

The innovative technology has been developed to allow hockey matches to be played without the constant water supply currently needed for competition hockey and Cannock is the first club to invest in it.

David Linford, club president, said: "We are extremely delighted to have the UK's first ever Tiger Turf WETT pitch.

"We sincerely hope it will be an outstanding success and that visiting players enjoy the experience."

Ken Bedford, life vice-president of the club who was part of the management team responsible for the new pitch, said: "The Tiger Turf pitch offered the best playing surface and the most environmentally friendly option that doesn't require gallons of water."

The surface is made from durable polyethylene monofilament fibres which are similar to nylon blades but much softer.

The density of the fibres absorbs the impact from the hockey stick, recovering immediately and ensuring consistent performance.

At the beginning of last year, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) challenged manufacturers to develop surfaces that did not rely on large volumes of water.

Cannock Hockey Club is one of the longest established and most successful hockey clubs in the UK and was established in 1905.