THE Rochester-based Holcombe Hockey Club will have one of the best grounds in southern England after receiving a grant of almost £200,000 for improvements.

The money will go towards building a second all-weather pitch at their Holcombe Park ground. Club chairman David South said: “This is the culmination of 10 years hard work by a team of dedicated volunteers at the club.”

The overall cost of the project is £570,000 with grant from the Sport England Lottery Panel covering £194,507.

Holcombeians Sports Club, which runs the hockey club, are funding the remaining £375,000, which has been raised over the past four years.

Mr South said: “After our first award for pitch one five years ago we have had to work doubly hard to achieve this second very significant milestone.”