The club wishes to rebuild its junior hockey coaching programme and be in a strong club membership position in the years ahead.

Kieran McGoldrick will co ordinate the club’s child protection responsibilities and will develop the junior and club coaching with former players who have pledged to help.

Boys from 13 years, or players moving to the town, are especially welcome and details can be had from secretary Jim King at 028 2827 9906 or Kieran McGoldrick at 028 2827 9750.

All local schools will be contacted to offer club membership to pupils.

It is hoped that this will be the last season Larne Hockey Club will have to play its games away from home - something it has had to do from 1993.

A new astro turf pitch is now proposed at Larne High School grounds supported by Big Lottery funding. The North Eastern Education and Library Board is progressing the project to the planning process and approval for this location appears likely.

The club hopes this facility will be available for the start of the 2009 hockey season and hence its drive to build its player base.

Club president Ronnie Blair said, “The proposal for an astro turf provision at Sandy Bay has been a frustrating experience for all concerned and the club is grateful for those bodies who have worked hard to ensure Big Lottery funding was not lost to Larne and can now be redirected to the provision at Larne High School grounds.

“The benefit of having an astro turf pitch in Larne is huge and will ensure the long term development of hockey in the town for both the men’s and ladies’ clubs and also assist sports development for many schools and other sports clubs”.

The club is making efforts to contact many of its past players who have moved to other clubs over recent years to see if they can assist the club in a playing, coaching, or administrative capacity.

Chairman John McCalmont said, “This is an exciting time for Larne Hockey Club, with the prospect of a new astro turf pitch at Larne High School for next year and the commitment from several former players to help develop young players for the future”.

Larne First XI play in Senior League Section II and all games this season will again be played at Mossley Hockey Club’s ground at The Glade, home games being played on a Friday night under floodlights.

The new season starts in mid-September.