Sutton venue ready for hockey action

The upgraded international standard hockey pitch has been completed at Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield.

Wyndley Leisure Centre is one of the official training venues for Birmingham 2022.

Sports such as hockey, triathlon and Para triathlon will use the centre ahead of the Games and the improved facilities will be used by the community after Birmingham 2022.

Training venues play a pivotal role in any athlete’s preparation in the build up to a major event, and Birmingham 2022 has ensured that world-class venues, which will replicate each sport’s competition venue, have been selected.

Wyndley was previously announced as the training venue for triathlon, Para triathlon and hockey, with the existing hockey pitch being upgraded to a Federation International Hockey (FIH) standard pitch, to replicate the playing surface at the University of Birmingham, the hockey competition venue. Improvements are also being made to the fencing and floodlights on the site.

As well as ensuring that the teams invited to compete at the Commonwealth Games have excellent training facilities, the improvements will have a long-lasting benefit for local community groups, schools and local hockey players too, such as those from Sutton Coldfield Hockey Club, who are based at the site.

The club’s members include Jane Sixsmith, who won a silver medal as part of the Team England hockey team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Jane said: “It’s very exciting news that Wyndley Leisure Centre has been selected as an official training venue for the hockey teams competing at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“Not only will it be inspiring for members of the club to know that our home pitch will be used by some of the global stars of hockey, but it also means that the facilities we use are receiving a significant upgrade, so we’ll have an international standard pitch to play and train on – it’s a fantastic legacy for the Games.”

Wyndley Leisure Centre is owned by Birmingham City Council and operated by Birmingham Community Leisure Trust. 

The improvements at Wyndley include the athletics track on site being refurbished.