Hockey has become as much a business as a sport and as the game has moved from grass to all-weather and synthetic surfaces the costs are not just in building a pitch but also replacing the carpet when the original is worn out.

The wearing process is compounded by the fact that most Leinster clubs have to rent out their pitches to other clubs and sports in order to take rent and repay the loans.

Pembroke have GAA and soccer teams renting their pitch in Serpentine Avenue, with others around the province also providing a venue for schools and TAG rugby.

In that light the current Leinster Senior League leaders Three Rock Rovers are in the process of replacing their two pitches at Grange Road. As always the costs are huge and generally beyond the scope of members stumping up.

Auction tomorrow
To that effect the club are holding an auction tomorrow, which is open to all, to raise money to replace the two pitches. The venue for around 50 finals a year, the ground at Marley Park is the same piece of ground where the first synthetic surface pitch in Ireland was laid.

That small piece of hockey history took place in the mid-1980s soon after Rovers moved from their original grass grounds in Londonbridge Road, where Lansdowne Tennis Club is currently located.

Now the costs to replace the pitches may run to as much as €250,000 each for water system, turf and shock pads. At best the club are looking at €180,000 for each pitch.

In the spirit of hard times and good bargains, among many objects on offer in tomorrow's auction are two tickets to number one court on the first Monday of Wimbledon, June 23rd; the German national hockey team Olympic shirt – thanks to Andrew Meredith (Irish coach). The shirt was uniquely made just for the German 2012 Olympic Games squad – and tickets for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (2014); tickets are for a session of pool games.