PENARTH Hockey Club (HC) has received a major boost ahead of the 2015-16 season with the acquisition of former Wales international Ben Croxall as its new player-coach.

Already a club renowned for producing internationals in youth and veteran age groups over the years, Penarth HC hopes that Croxall’s arrival will boost standards and achievements at all levels.

His record speaks for itself as 10 years at the very highest level of UK club hockey with both Whitchurch and Cardiff and Met saw him play a vital role in landing a string of European, Welsh and league titles, while, on the international scene, he represented Wales at senior level on no fewer than 36 occasions, with highlights including medals in both the European indoor and outdoor championships, as well as playing in the World Cup qualifiers in New Zealand.

Croxall has also represented, captained and coached the Welsh mixed hockey team at different times over the last eight years, and further enhanced his coaching reputation with two victorious spells in charge of the Welsh Universities side, as well as league and cup honours with Cardiff University’s men’s and women’s teams - a level of success he now hopes to bring to his new venture.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to join Penarth HC as player/coach,” Croxall said. “Penarth HC is a great club with a lot of history as one of the top teams in South Wales, and there are exciting times ahead as the club will be returning home in 2015 with a new pitch at Stanwell school just a stone’s throw from its club house.

“I know that Penarth has a talented group of players, and I am looking forward to working with them. Our goal this season has to be promotion at all levels and my role will be to oversee the coaching set-up of what is now three senior men's teams, as well as helping to build the youth section.

“Penarth has a great reputation as a cultivator of young hockey talent and we want to provide local children of all ages with the opportunity to learn and develop their skills. Some great work has already been done by the club and I look forward to working with the current group of committed and enthusiastic coaches to take things to the next level.”

Installing an experienced coach is another step towards Penarth HC’s "2020 Vision", and chairman Nick Pratt is delighted to welcome Croxall to the Vale of Glamorgan’s only men’s hockey club.

“Ben’s arrival as player-coach is a great fillip for a club looking to go places in the next five years,” Pratt said, “We have big plans for hockey at all levels at Penarth and the provision of class coaching can only help achieve that aim, both now and for the future.

“Returning to a home pitch in Penarth is another essential piece of the puzzle and I hope that Ben’s arrival as player-coach and the move to playing at Stanwell can have an inspiring effect on the already loyal and hard-working members of the club.”

On the field, Penarth’s next competitive outing comes at veteran level in this weekend’s National Masters Tournament in Swansea (June 20-21).

Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. Training currently takes place on the artificial turf at Barry Sport Centre every Wednesday, with the Juniors in action between 6-7pm and Senior between 7-8pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact either player-coach Ben Croxall on b_croxall20@yahoo.co.uk or club secretary Dave Stevens on d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk for further information.