CHAIRMAN Stuart Emms has proclaimed as ‘fantastic’ the achievement of two Wotton Hockey Club teams in clinching promotion last weekend.

The amazing men’s first and second teams both claimed promotion last weekend as the firsts defeated Cardiff Medics 3-0 in the Davis Wood League De Cymru & Marches Division One, while the seconds beat Cirencester A 6-3 to go up from the East Central Division One.

And, with more glory possible in the coming weeks as the ladies firsts are riding high in their West Clubs Women’s League Berkeley One division and the men’s thirds chasing a promotion too, Emms has urged his sides to kick-on and make it the best year in Wotton’s history.

A lot of the credit for the men’s teams promotions, said Emms, lay with head coach Matt Fairburn and his team plus the plastic pitch at Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School sports centre in the town which has galvanised the club into one.

The club chairman said: “This is fantastic news and the men’s teams have been building for it this season. It’s down to our coach Matt Fairburn who has done a great job.

“We talk a lot about the new pitch because having our own home town pitch has made a big impact. It’s brought back a few players who have returned to the local area and said they would come back and play if the pitch was built.”

Interest in the club has become so big that they are looking to launch another ladies team – which will make three of them at the club – and a fourth men’s side.

And the junior section at Wotton are burgeoning with good, young players.

Emms added: “The senior sides have had terrific seasons and all these teams can now push on. The men’s firsts and seconds have done one thing which is guarantee promotion but the firsts are neck and neck with Hereford for the title and they could have the prospect later this month of a title decider at home.

“And the men’s seconds have, potentially, a title decider of their own against Cheltenham C (on March 14).”

The double promotion is just what the doctor ordered for the club in terms of ensuring there is not too much of a gap in standards between the club’s senior teams so that second team players can look to leap to the first side, who will be playing in the Conference South, if they have the ability to go higher in their playing careers.