Olympic gold medal-winning hockey player Sam Quek opened the extended and refurbished clubhouse of Wilmslow Phoenix Sports Club on Friday, 20th January, which is home to Wilmslow Hockey Club, Wilmslow Lacrosse Club and Wayfarers Cricket Club.
Originally planned to provide improved facilities for lady members, the project rapidly increased in scope to include complete rewiring, new lighting, flooring and heating and a new lobby with increased storage space.
Phoenix Chairman Richard Ollerenshaw praised the fundraising efforts of club members and particularly thanked the Wilmslow Half Marathon committee for its continuing support.
Richard said "It's great to see the refurbishment we started planning in 2009 all completed to the highest standards, so now we have a facility we are very proud of. Having Sam Quek open the new facility was fantastic, we couldn't have had asked for a better link to open the club. It was a great evening had by all."
Sam was a member of the GB team who beat the Netherlands to secure GB's first women's hockey gold medal in the Rio Olympics. She is now back playing national league hockey for Cheshire side Bowdon Hightown but took time out of a busy training schedule to help celebrate another milestone in Phoenix Club's development and to wish the Wilmslow side's success for the remainder of the season.
Wilmslow Men's Hockey are currently enjoying their most successful ever season with 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs all top of their leagues and 4th XI lying third.Wilmslow ladies 2nd team are also enjoying their most successful season, as they are undefeated and 10 points clear at the top of the league, the 1st and 3rd teams are also enjoying the season with continued success.
Photos (l-r) Richard Ollerneshaw (Phoenix Sports Club Chairman), Paul Pearson (Chairman of Wilmslow Hockey), Sam Quek, and Steve Kinsella (President of WHC). Sam Quek with Jim Barrow BEM - who created Wilmslow Phoenix Sports Club in 1980, and self funded the astro turf in 1995. Richard Ollernshaw and Sam giving a speech at the opening.
