International hockey is coming to Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in 2008 as England Hockey host the EuroHockey Indoor Nations Challenge over the weekend 18-20 January in an event supported by Sheffield City Council’s Major Sports Events Unit.

The tournament features mens and womens teams and marks the return to international indoor hockey for England, who have not played in this event for over a decade. This means that England are starting out at the third tier of the European competition and eager to progress.

In the mens competition England will face Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Sweden and Turkey whilst the women will face Denmark, Sweden and Turkey. See over for the full match schedule.

Indoor Hockey is an exciting six-a-side version of the outdoor game which will appeal to all sports fans. Similar to ice hockey, sideboards run the length of the 36 m pitch to keep the ball in play and ensure plenty of goalmouth action. This tournament will see the main hall at Ponds Forge transformed by the England Hockey “Sport Court” pitch, a yellow portable floor which is ideally suited to the fast and furious nature of the game.  

England Performance Director David Faulkner is looking forward to the event “We are delighted to again be participating on the international stage in the indoor game which is one of the key aspects of supporting our 2012 aspirations. We hope that the Yorkshire public will come out in force to support us and witness some of our future Olympians.”  

Tickets for the event start from just £2.00 for juniors and are available on the door or in advance from the Sheffield Arena box office, 01142 565656, or on-line at sheffieldarena.co.uk.