ALTON Hockey Club have held their final push for a pitch event.

The fundraising event at Eggar’s School set out to raise the final £8,000 that the club needed to reach its £50,000 target to support the school’s bid to build a new astro turf.

Having heard that planning permission for the pitch had been granted, club members were in fine spirits when they arrived to enjoy drinks and a hog roast.

During the meal, attendees were treated to a talk by ex-Great Britain (GB) international goalkeeper and director of Mercian Hockey Simon Mason. He discussed his journey to where he is now, choices in life and success, as well as ribbing club coach and former GB international Soma Singh about his past moustaches.

After Mason’s speech, Nick Godfrey stepped up to lead an auction of items, including Premier League football and Premiership rugby tickets, holidays in France and Cornwall and a host of other offers. The evening ended with dancing.

Having now reached their total target of £50,000 over two years, the club hope that the work might begin before the start of next season to celebrate the club’s 40th anniversary.