How social hockey has gone from strength to strength at Dysynni Hockey Club

There’s a hockey fever at Dysynni Hockey Club, where social initiatives have inspired many to play regularly, and even competitively. 

The club is passionate about spreading the wide-ranging benefits of sport and physical activity and is committed to spreading the joy of hockey for all.  

Its walking hockey sessions originated in 2020, under a backdrop of COVID restrictions that we all remember to be very isolating.  

“We were allowed to play outside, so we started these sessions,” commented Lynda Bennett MBE, a pivotal figure at the club who holds roles such as Head Coach and Treasurer as well as Ladies 2s Captain and much more.  

“The enjoyment and relief of meeting, chatting, and socialising was almost palpable. The hockey was fun, we walked, learnt how to play differently and inclusively, teaching the non-hockey players the rudiments of the game.” 

“One of our dear friends and ex-Dysynni players passed away and left the club some money to set this initiative up,” added the club’s Secretary Sue Williams, who also manages the Men’s side as well as being Ladies 2s Vice Captain, “so, this is Clare's legacy.” 

Targeted at adults, these sessions brought together many of the parents at the club, as well as a lot of the club’s former juniors. As time has passed, the standard of the sessions has continued to rise, and the group has developed a friendly but competitive men’s side.  

“We saw how much all the men were enjoying social hockey on a Monday and getting competitive, and I hoped an opportunity would arise to play a match,” explained Sue. 

“The women attending the session already had an avenue to take part in the ladies games in North Wales, for the men taking part there wasn’t any opportunity,” Lynda added. 

The club used to have a men’s team until the North Wales League was forced to terminate around a decade ago. Following this, talented players opted to travel to clubs such as Chester, Wrexham and Neston to continue playing.  

With the emergence of the men’s competitive desire from the social sessions, the club got the ball rolling on organising friendly fixtures and entering the side into tournaments.  

"When the summer 7s tournaments in Denbigh were advertised in the summer of 2023, we jumped at the opportunity,” said Sue. “First, we got a mixed side out and then entered two men’s teams. That led on to a conversation with Wrexham HC, who were looking for new opposition and we set up our first friendly that August!” 

Since, the side has played against the likes of Rhyl, Denbigh, Aberystwyth University, Bangor City, and Northop Hall, as well as Wrexham. On top of those friendlies, the men played in the Denbigh 7s again in 2024 and won the Wrexham 11-a-side summer tournament. 

“Results varied greatly due to playing a broad range of players,” Sue told us, “and we’ve sometimes given the opposition players as well as had to be lent players. 

“The priority has always been just to play competitive hockey!” 

And so, it has proved popular for Dysynni HC and its members, with upwards of 20 men and boys joining competitive training sessions on a weekly basis. 

With the standard progressively increasing and a structured team continuing to develop, things have culminated so far to a brilliant result in the Men’s Challenge Cup.  

After a 6-2 quarter-final win over Swansea 6s in February and a 9-0 semi-final victory over Bridgend 3s in March, May saw the Dysynni Men’s team travel down to Swansea for the National Finals.  

Silverware wasn’t forthcoming after narrowly losing out to Aber Uni 1s in the final but, having pushed their opposition all the way to an agonising 57th-minute winner, the exceptional progress and enthusiasm was there in abundance. 

But, while it’s brilliant to see how this outreach has developed into a new competitive team with engaged players, the social sessions held at Dysynni have been of particular note because of how they’ve given everyone an opportunity to engage with our sport and feel the critical benefits it provides.  

“I regard the social hockey as the session where I can relax and enjoy my sport the most in the week, and I think everyone else does too,” explained Lynda. “People are doubled over with laughter at times – it’s a tonic!” 

One participant, Spencer Pughe, had never picked up a hockey stick in his life but now plays competitively for Dysynni HC and finds it nothing but positive. 

"Despite some questionable hockey skills at 55, the regular activity and chance to catch up with friends provides a welcome break from the pressures of daily life,” he said, “and the whole experience has had a very positive impact on my overall wellbeing.  

“Finally, having followed both my daughters' hockey journeys over the last eight years, I’ve now taken on umpiring duties, awaiting my Level 1 assessment.” 

Claire Davies also takes part in the social sessions, which allow her to “focus on something other than caring duties, just for an hour. 

“The chat before and after playing is equally valuable, and it’s a lovely, mixed group of people of all ages, all abilities and all made to feel welcome.  

"The session has meant I can keep playing at nearly 68, keeping a reasonable level of fitness. I love it! And I love my continued connection to the club." 

“As a club,” concluded Sue, “we have brought adults back into playing again and some have gone into the senior sides. For individuals, there are a number of reasons for joining in, but mostly it's the fun element and the social aspect. This is key.” 

Hoci Cymru is delighted to see such brilliant work from its clubs. It’s fantastic to see hockey clubs across Wales harnessing the power of our sport to positively impact lives in their local communities.