ROARING FIRES AND DOG MUCK

If you ask any of the Leicester Ladies' hockey club players who played on Evington Park in the 70s and 80s what they remember most, it could be the post-match roaring fire in Evington House or that the grass pitch was often used by dogs (in the days before dog walkers all carried little plastic bags). Pre-match pitch inspections did not always reveal the dreaded deposits, and there was the odd nasty surprise as sticks made contact with something other than the hockey ball!

In the early days we trundled a trolley from Evington House onto the pitch and assembled the goals from assorted posts, nets, ropes and pegs. Later we bought ready assembled metal goals which we woman-handled onto the pitch. Being on the tea rota was infinitely preferable to setting out the goals!

At this time, Leicester Ladies' was the best team in the Midlands, with international players Lesley Hurley, Sue Holwell and Helen Murray. The pitch was well maintained and allowed us to play fast and skilful hockey, apart from when heavy rain turned it into a quagmire. The club left Evington Park, with its beautiful old rooms and fireplaces, and moved to Leicester to play on the artificial pitch at St Margaret's Pastures.

Leicester Ladies' Hockey Club began in 1894 and now plays on state of the art pitches at Leicester Grammar School in Great Glen. Eight players are members of the current Great Britain party; four players competed in the Beijing Olympics; and we are hopeful that players from Leicester Ladies' will represent Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics in London. Few of the 120 current Leicester Ladies' hockey club members have any recollection of hockey at Evington Park; those that do remember it with great fondness.