Scottish Hockey is to benefit from a major cash injection with Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson announcing a £639,000 sportscotland investment in the Scottish Hockey Union (SHU) which will support players at all levels.

The investment, of which £403,000 is sportscotland Lottery funding, includes £316,000 for the Athlete Support programme and elite coach development, £273,000 for staffing, player improvement and long-term development and £50,000 for coaching, volunteering and club development.

"Hockey is an extremely popular sport in Scotland and this funding will support the game from grassroots right through to the elite level,” Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson said:

“I'm sure this announcement will provide a welcome boost for our teams as they prepare to make Scotland proud at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next month."

"We are very pleased to have received this level of support from sportscotland. This investment reflects the continued progress hockey has made over the past decade and will enable us to continue to fulfil our current business plan,” Brent Deans, CEO, Scottish Hockey Union, said.

 “Our partnership with sportscotland in delivering sport from grassroots to elite level not only involves players, it also involves a myriad of volunteers at school, club and international level who are a key factor in the development of the sport."

"At the elite level, in this Commonwealth Games year, we are proud to have supported so many of the members of both the men's and women's hockey teams,” Julia Bracewell, chair, sportscotland, said.

“I am sure that the Athlete Support funding, both past and present, will have made a significant contribution to enable them to undertake the best possible training and preparation programme ahead of Melbourne. We wish both teams good luck on the pitch this March."