Coach Gareth Terrett insists Swansea deserve their promotion to the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.

Swansea were granted their new status – and become the first Welsh club to reach the top flight – after the decision to end the current hockey season.

Promotion and relegation issues were based on standings when the leagues were hit by lockdown last month.

It means Swansea women – who led the way in Division One North – have now been declared champions and will test themselves in the top level of domestic women’s hockey next season, alongside the likes of champions Surbiton.

Terrett says his side deserve their new top tier status for the way they held off the challenge of Leicester this season.

“We are so pleased to have achieved a place in the Premier Division next season,” he said.

 

Huge congratulations to @SwansSpartans for their promotion into the Premier League. Having a Welsh based team playing at the top level is very exciting and reflects on the progress of hockey in Wales. @HockeyWales

— Leah Wilkinson (@Leahwilkinson17) April 29, 2020

“The team have worked incredibly hard both on and off the pitch to reach this point.  It has not just been about this season, but all the hard work that has gone on before and we have many people to thank inside the club both past and present.

“We had been at the top before the Christmas break, but Leicester came back at us hard.

“When we took top spot back in March after the win against the University of Durham we were in a great position to take the title, but shortly after the game all hockey was cancelled and we were unsure how the season was going to end.

“Having received confirmation of our place in the Premier Division, we can look forward to the time when we can get back on the pitch and begin the new season at the highest level.”

Kevin Johnson, head of pathway for Hockey Wales, said: “Whilst my thoughts go out to everyone that is impacted negatively by decisions that are having to be made at this unprecedented time, I am of course delighted to see that all the hard work that has gone into Swansea Ladies’ performance programme by the hockey club, Gareth, his staff and of course the playing squad, has been rewarded in this promotion to the Women’s Premier League for next season.

“As a Hockey Wales’ supported performance club, this will particularly benefit the ongoing development of those Welsh players in our pathway and performance programmes who will now get the opportunity to play regularly and consistently at the top level of domestic hockey.”