A HOCKEY club has launched a new initiative to encourage more men to take up the sport.

Tynedale Hockey Club will host a Back to Hockey for Men session, on the artificial pitch at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School, on Monday evening.

It follows the success of the club’s Back to Hockey for Women group over the past four years.

The club’s Maggie Coombe said: “No previous experience is necessary. It’s an opportunity to give a new sport a go or to revisit one you perhaps played several years ago.

“Back to Hockey for Women has been a great success. We want men to have the same opportunity.”

Monday’s session, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, will be the first of several over the coming weeks.

Tynedale Hockey Club has also been selected to pilot a new scheme, Hockey Heroes. The scheme will be for young children under the age of seven.

They are also aiming to run walking hockey sessions for people who are older or less mobile.

Maggie added: “Tynedale Hockey Club are a really vibrant and expanding club, and we hope to encourage others to join.”

Tynedale Hockey Club, which recently held their AGM, are in the process of developing a new website.

More information about the club can be found on their Facebook page.