Hockey: Bell working non-stop to get 150 players and officials to star event

JOHN BELL continues to burn the candle at both ends as he steers Inverleith hockey club towards the biggest event in their 95-year history.

The club, which has helped produce two Olympians, hosts the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Club Champions Trophy at Napier University from February 17-19. And Bell, chairman of the tournament organising committee, declared: “This is one of the biggest indoor hockey events ever held in Edinburgh and in Scotland.”

Nearly 150 players and officials from abroad will attend and it has been a massive job for Bell and his six-strong committee. French champions Lille MHC, Ukraine kingpins HC Kolos-Sekvoya Vinnitsa, HC 1972 Rakovnik from the Czech Republic, Slagelse HC of Denmark, Racing Club de Bruxelles from Belgium and AD Lousada from Portugal will compete alongside Inverleith at the Engage arena in Sighthill.

There will be seven matches each day.

Bell added: “There is a lot of excitement about this event. The teams coming are champions in their own country and the standard will be really high.

“It’s a massive undertaking for a club like ours. We have 200 members of all age ranges playing in four men’s and three ladies’ teams and with two development teams of youngsters.

“Our system has produced two Olympians in Stephen Dick and Graham Moodie and a host of international players. We want to keep that production line going.”

• The EuroHockey Indoor Club Champions Trophy will be played at Napier University’s Sighthill Campus. Tickets are available on the day at the venue or via www.ticketweb.co.uk . Prices are £5 for a day ticket and £12 for a three-day ticket. Under-16s can enter free with a ticketholder. It is free for senior citizens.