Join Teddington Hockey Club's community day this Saturday

Not many people realise that Teddington is home to the world's oldest hockey club. Hockey is now played by around 30 million people worldwide, across 137 to 140 national associations spanning all five continents - and it was Teddington Hockey Club, founded in 1871, that created the rules of the modern game, including playing eleven-a-side, the ball still used today, and 'the D'.

Today the club is one of the borough's largest sports clubs in the Borough of Richmond, with 55 teams and 750 members. It runs more than 2,000 sessions a year, providing local residents with an estimated 50,000 hours of exercise. It prides itself on being open to everyone, with pathways for beginners, development players, disabled players, masters and veterans, and works to introduce hockey into state schools. Its grassroots programme starts with an under sixes group and stretches all the way to a flourishing over 60s team, with playing members ranging in age from 5 to 70, and it runs unique multi-generational tournaments in which whole families play together.

All of this is made possible by more than 100 volunteers, and every match - including the bigger fixtures that draw crowds of 250 or more - is free to watch. The Women's 1st XI plays in the England Premier Division, fielding senior internationals alongside home-grown talent, while olympians help coach the club's juniors: 56 of them earned representative honours in 2025. Through its outreach programme, the club also provides free coaching, kit and fixtures to 100 to 150 children from five local state schools every week, and runs Flyerz, a free, year-round pan-disability hockey programme open to everyone from age 8.

Come down on Saturday 3 October to support an incredible asset to the borough and watch some incredible live sport, enjoy the clubhouse, and find out more about hockey. The Women's 1st XI are in action from 1.30pm in a national league game, Flyerz runs a taster session from 3pm, and the Men's 1st XI take to the pitch from 4pm.

Everyone is welcome - for more details, follow the club on Instagram at @teddingtonhockey.