Young hockey players get some coaching from England hockey international, Great Britain Olympian and Town Close House old boy Richard Alexander at the opening of a new £600,000 all-weather pitch by the Central Norwich Hockey Consortium on land at the Hewett School. Photo by Simon Finlay

Great Britain Olympian and Town Close House School old boy Richard Alexander was on hand to open Norwich’s newest hockey facility.

The new state of the art pitch at Hewett School will be a great shot in the arm to the likes of Norwich Dragons, who have been without a home since the closure of the former Norwich Union site Pinebanks three years ago.

Alexander ran through some drills with more than 100 young players during Sunday’s opening ceremony.

“This is a great new facility for Norwich hockey players of all levels from beginner upwards,” said Alexander. “It’s one of the best pitches I’ve played on and I hope it’ll get more people in Norwich taking up hockey.”