Luton Town Hockey Club - SAVE OUR CLUB!

Who We Are!

Established in 1992, Luton Town Hockey Club is a social, friendly club with a thriving and ambitious youth development programme. Alongside the junior programme the club currently runs 3 men's and 2 ladies sides with plans to expand participation of the sport within the town.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Following troubling economic struggles, COVID, increased expenses and the doubling of the cost of hockey pitch hire in the town, unfortunately Luton Town Hockey Club is, for the first time in its history, starting to struggle financially.

Without external economic support, Luton Town Hockey Club is currently facing uncharted waters, where it may be sent to the depths of the deep sea and not able to return.

We are appealing to those that can help support us through these troubling times, to allow us to continue to be a mainstay within the community and provide children and adults the access to a sport that provides not only a home, but an inviting safe space to be themselves and be a part of something that pulls the community closer. 

What will we do with funds raised!

Funds raised will be used for the increasing cost of pitch hire and equipment purchases. It will also allow the club to get into the community more by allowing us to put on additional events.

It will allow us to focus efforts to increase inclusion and cover overheads such as increasing pitch hire costs to allow additional sessions 

We will promote hockey to the local areas and in socio-economically deprived areas.

We will aim to promote hockey to those that are not already affiliated with other sports, and offer a different option to which is not currently being taught in schools.

Diversity & Inclusion

As you probably know Luton Town itself is a home to a wide variety of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. We are proud to say that our club represents and celebrate diversity in all of its forms. Currently we have members from a huge variety of backgrounds including White British, Asian, Mixed Caribbean, White Irish, Asian British, Mixed African, Asian Indian, Asian Pakistani, Black African to name but a few. We also welcome those from the LGBTQ+ and have member representatives. 

As a a Hockey Club we want to continue to support our local community by giving back where we can. Please find below the types of support your donations will be giving to the local area.

Engaging with the Community

Local Schools

Luton Town Hockey Club has a long background in introducing local schools to sports such as hockey. 

As a club, we firmly believe we have to do our part to provide an alternative option to the UK's main sports such as Football, Rugby, Netball, Tennis etc.... 

Your donations will aid the financial aspects of these school visits, including expenses such as coach hire and equipment costs.

We have recently run a hockey festival alongside Luton School Games to promote our sport within school and give children the opportunity to try Hockey for the first time.

Half-Term Camps

On the back of the schools, we will be able to provide Half-Term Camps, which can provide alternative childcare options to families, while allowing children to learn valuable skills such as Teamwork and Communication.

These half-term camps are the perfect place for children to pick up a hockey stick for the first time and find a hobby and passion in which to thrive. We are continuing to further develop our inclusive club no matter your sporting ability, race, religion or economic background.

This Girl Can

Luton Town Hockey Club has is a big supporter of the Lottery Funded, Sport England Campaign, that allowed women to get active and play sport in the right way for them. 

As a club, we ran sessions inline with this campaign which saw an uptake of Ladies Memberships and allowed women to fall in love with a game that continues to lead the way in gender equality.

Community Outreach

Park Run

Throughout the year, the club loves to get involved within the local community. One way we have done this is via donating our time to be stewards at a local Park Run.

Although this activity does not need capital, the money that we raise through this project will enable us to be a mainstay in the community and in turn increase the reputation of the club throughout the town. This only has positive benefits on the local community as it means things such as, an increased number of people donating their time to the local community, while also providing the local community with the support it needs.

Food Bank

The Club supports our Luton Foodbank with collecting donations at Asda.

Bryn's Memorial and Macmillan Fundraiser

Each year, Luton Town Hockey Club host a 7-a-side hockey tournament and fun day in memory of Bryn, a player and coach who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2019. This day welcomes all club members, existing and new, and the return of past members to play hockey and raise funds for Bryn’s chosen charity, Macmillan.

Caption: Bryn’s team, comprised of his friends made through LTHC and his wife Maxine (centre)

International Success!

By supporting us, you could be supporting a future super star. Our success isn't just local....

Luton Town Hockey Club has been home and a place where its members have thrived and pushed their boundaries. We have been fortunate to have members of this club go on to have some great International Success! Find out some more about a couple of those talented players below.

LTHC has not only been a springboard for the following individuals but for many others that had access to the club at whatever stage in their hockey career. There are a number of players at LTHC that have and are currently still growing  that have made their way through the England Development and Senior Programs, representing their local county, regions and national teams with their affiliated age group.

Emma Whitehall - GB Masters U45

"The last 35 years at Luton Town Hockey Club have given me so many happy memories, poignant moments and friendships that will last a lifetime. It is a friendly, welcoming and sociable club, with a unique ‘family’ feel, offering opportunities for competition, fun and fraternising both on and off the pitch."

Jordan Homann - England U16/18

"Having started my hockey experience in the Luton Youth section, I have achieved England status at u16/18"

"Hockey has given me so many opportunities in life like being able to go to a top university, to private school, to represent England and travel Europe. My journey and love for the sport all started at LTHC. The club have had such an important role of introducing me to hockey and developing me into the player I am today. It is great to still be able to come home to such a welcoming and supportive club. LTHC will always be my hockey home and where I hope to finish my hockey career."

Michael Crowson - England Masters

"Luton Town HC has always been my club. Not only have we achieved sporting success on the field over the many years I have played there, it has always provided inclusive quality hockey to all. It is the place where I have made lifelong friendships and remains a key part of my life."

Luton and its Economic Deprived Areas

Help us, help our Town.

Out of the 121 Neighbourhoods in Luton, 34 of them were among the 20 percent most-income deprived in England. 

Using the money generated from this project we will be able to reach out to these areas of the town as we are based in the centre of Luton, close to the most deprived areas. We will be able to keep hockey costs down for children and families, pitch costs themselves are making the sport unaffordable for our town.

According to the report Crime Rate and Safety in Luton "Luton is the most dangerous town in Bedfordshire, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of Bedfordshire's 127 towns, villages, and cities.

When children and youth take part in sport they are less likely to fall into exploitation and harmful situations. "Sports participation is found to have a greater effect on violent crimes...". This finding is consistent across all specifications. The results indicate that a 10% increase in sports participation is associated with a fall in violent crimes between 0.97 and 1.56%." We want our town to be better and we want our children in our town to feel safe.

As a sports club we can play an integral part to safeguarding children and playing a part of the 'jigsaw' that is built around a child. We can't support children if we are unable to run regular training sessions, provide children with high aspirations and significant role models.

Your donations would go a long way in making this possible and potentially have an unrivalled positive impact on the youth of today.

Our Club