After nearly two years away, we’re again this week as a print product for readers.
Our concept changed into first conceived thanks to several conferences and lots of snickers with respected journalist Graham Wilson, who regrettably surpassed away earlier than the first trouble became posted.
Determined to look thru the concept, The Hockey Paper released at the back of Team GB women’s gold on the Rio Olympics.
And it’s far now a thrill to return subscription-best as we chart GB’s Olympic defense beforehand of Tokyo 2020 subsequent 12 months. The relaunch is again in Graham’s reminiscence.
One of the principal reasons we produced a print newspaper on hockey in 2016 – we’re nonetheless the handiest UK print newspaper committed to an Olympic recreation – was that we felt the sport is now not getting the attention it needs and deserves on a national level degree.
We sought to alternate that, and we had been sincerely making headway with our testimonies and features reaching readers and clubs across the UK before we were forced into going digital handiest.
We saved the momentum online across one Commonwealth Games and two World Cups, and web traffic underlined a marketplace for hockey media.
Of direction, many of our functions don’t translate accurately into virtual, including our devoted new junior section – and so print is extra critical.
We could be a complete product presenting the general recreation, the home scene, Masters, more historical cognizance, umpiring, coaching, the Home Nations, and the sport’s history.
The Hockey Paper will be printed frequently every fortnight – barring the fantastic week off while hockey sticks are rested – but what is sure is that we will remain a leader for the same insurance throughout the men’s and women’s game.