Clubs around the UK are busy embracing our gold medal by welcoming new and current players to their #HockeyFest.

Nottingham Players Hockey Club HockeyFest consisted of some small sided festival with an auction to raise funds of the juniors in the club house after.

Maddie has been inspired from the women’s gold medal and got in touch with Nottingham Players to get back into the sport. “I watched the hockey on the telly, I used to play at school and thought I would give it a go and see what is going on in the area. This is pretty local so I dropped an email and here I am 3 weeks later. The Olympics were inspirational especially around the women’s hockey as they had won bronze before.”

Mike who doesn’t play the sport but got into hockey after his wife played volunteers at the club by running the Back to Hockey sessions. “We have had many phone calls from a range of women just wanting to play, some have been inspired to back to the sport or some are complete newbies.

“We tailor the sessions to fit who attends with the main aim is to have fun.  There is no need to feel scared, our sessions are friendly and have a good atmosphere.  It is more about getting comfortable with everything.

Maddie had a few reservations about getting back to it but is so pleased she has. “If you are thinking about it, I would say just do it. I don’t normally like to do things where i don’t really know anyone but they made me feel so welcomed I had to come back! It is a nice friendly club and I am so pleased I have joined!”

Leeds Adel have seen some new faces at their summer hockey league and carried on a fun mixed match at their HockeyFest, despite the rain the players were still all smiles. Bromley and Beckenham Hockey Club were lucky enough to have Maddie Hinch opened their new pitch whilst in Scotland Great Britain player Sarah Robertson visited Falkirk who had an inflatable pitch on site.

Fancy getting back into hockey or want to celebrate our women getting gold in Rio find your nearest HockeyFest here > www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/playhockey