HELPING PEOPLE BE, THROUGH HOCKEY
Our vision:
is to be a place where anyone can find their happy.
Our mission:
to create hockey opportunities that promote and reward our principles and values in a fun, safe and developmental environment. We help our participants become healthier players by becoming happier people by looking after, listening to and learning from each other. We encourage purpose, fulfilment and unity across our sessions in the classroom, on the pitch and in the clubhouse. We invite, engage and inspire our attendees to learn, train and play hockey today, tomorrow and for the rest of their lives.
Our aims:
(1) increase 10 fold the number of people playing hockey across Sussex,
(2) improve the wellbeing of people involved in hockey across Sussex,
(3) increase the number of communities that play hockey across Sussex,
Two sets of integrated principles
BodyStickBall +
BodyMindSoul =
#Happyhockey
Two sets of integrated values
CommitmentEngagementResponsibility +
HumilityEmpathyAppreciation =
#Teamwork
Two sets of integrated environments
FunSafeDevelopment +
StriveStretchSucceed =
#PurposeFulfilmentUnity
FOUNDED ON 10 MAY 2016
Happy Hockey was created by Head Coach and Founder, Peter "PT" Thomas, as a new approach to recruiting, developing and retaining hockey players to hockey clubs.
Working closely with mentor Neil Plimmer (Director, Jolf), Malcolm Wain (Men's 5th XI captain, Lewes HC), and Nigel Baker (General Manager, Southdown Sports Club), Peter was able to recruit 20+ new players through England Hockey's Back-2-Hockey initiative in 2016 alone.
What started as a recruitment programme has grown into a movement — offering playing, coaching and club development opportunities in a fun, safe and developmental environment.
HEAD COACH AND FOUNDER
Peter "PT" Thomas
PT started playing hockey in his back garden with his dad aged just two. He has played for school, club, county and country and was top goal-scorer for Wales Men's Over 35s at the 2024 Masters World Cup in Cape Town.
A Level 3 England Hockey Coach he has coached hockey for over three decades across schools, clubs, county and university in the UK and US and was Sussex Hockey Association Head Coach from 2016-18, leading the Men's and Girls U17 Squads in the County Champs.
PT began creating hockey at university, running the inter-mural hockey leagues. In 2016 he created Monday Night Hockey at Lewes HC, which celebrates its 10th birthday in 2026.
Happy Hockey is a product of his experiences on and off the hockey pitch to create a new approach to introducing, coaching and playing hockey that is accessible to anyone.
