Hockey NSW CEO David Thompson labels Tamworth Hockey Complex best venue in NSW

In Tamworth for the Regional Challenge held on the weekend, Hockey NSW CEO David Thompson said discussions had begun about potentially bringing one of the Pride's Hockey One games to the city.

"It's something that is in development at the moment," he said.

"We get three home games a year so we are looking potentially at one regional location a year, and I've just been talking to the mayor (Col Murray) and the president (Ross Briggs) about working towards 2022 to see if there is an opportunity to bring one."

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"It does come with some costs that we need to manage but I think we would fill this place with hockey fans if we brought the stars."

The Pride squad currently boasts eight Hockeyroos and eight Kookaburras. There would also be plenty of local interest with Tamworth's-own Kate Jenner and Ehren Hazell, along with former Tamworth representative Alice Arnott, featuring for the side in the inaugural competition in 2019 (it wasn't held last year due to COVID).

The challenge was for Thompson his first chance to see the redeveloped Tamworth Hockey Complex in all it's glory. And he was more than impressed, conceding it was beyond what he envisaged.

"I think it's possibly the best venue in NSW now," he said.

"Obviously Sydney Olympic Park has a wonderful place in hockey history but this is as good as anything; the amenities, the fields, all water; it's as good as it gets."

It was the first time the three-day carnival, which serves as the culmination of the Centre of Development program, has been held in Tamworth since it was introduced back in 2015.

Then involving around 300 players, it has grown to be the biggest tournament on the Hockey NSW calendar with over 1000 boys and girls from all over the state taking to the pitch over the weekend.

One of the reasons for it's growth, Thompson believes, is the "essence" of the event, which is "fun and friendly".

"This is not about winning, this is about playing with your mates," he said.

The first major event since the pandemic for the Tamworth association, it marked the start of a jam-packed year.

On top of the regular local competitions, they are also slated to host the state over-40s/45s men's masters championships in late April and also have their annual York Cup and Kim Small Shield in the middle of the year.

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