Hockey has received a boost following UK Sport's annual review process with the news that funding from UK Sport for the elite end of the sport will increase for the remainder of the 2009-2013 funding cycle.
As a result of excellent performances and results on the hockey pitch, the sport's funding for the cycle will increase from £13,847,400 to £14,981,200, meaning an increase of £1,133,800 over the next two years.
Sally Munday, Chief Operating Officer at GB Hockey and Chief Executive of the England Hockey Board, said: “We’re very pleased with today’s funding announcement for hockey from UK Sport. The confidence shown in our players, our sport and us as the National Governing Body for hockey by UK Sport underlines the progress that has been made in the sport over the past few years and is a positive reflection of the performances and results of our teams on the hockey pitch.
"In recent years the England men have become European Champions and achieved significant results on the world stage including fourth at the World Cup and second at the Champions Trophy. At the same time, our women have finished on the podium in all three of their 2010 tournaments, winning bronze at the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy as well as at the 2009 European Championships. Those performances and results have come as a result of well thought out decisions taken four or five years ago, which have been consistently implemented in the years since.
“What today’s announcement will allow us to do is continue to invest in the areas that are starting to pay dividends, namely increasing coach-to-athlete contact time, coach development and sports science and sports medicine innovation. It will allow us to push on with our progress and will help ensure we give our hockey players the highest chance of success come London 2012 – people in the UK love team sport and hockey is going to be THE team sport to see at the London Olympics in 2012.”
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Source: England Hockey Board
