Witham are a club on the up.

On the field, both the men's 1st and 2nd XIs are sailing away at the top of their respective divisions in the East League having between them won 26 of their 28 games, losing only one.

Off it there are ambitious plans for a brand new pitch at Bramston School, meaning a return to their home town.

The club, which currently plays in Braintree, is also enjoying cup success. They have reached the last 16 of the HA Vase and next week travel to Tring for the next round.

Club secretary Peter Ferris admits these are exciting times.

"All three teams are flying in the league, and we've started running a fourth team for friendlies. You can only go down so far. The club over the last four or five years really suffered.

"We lost an awful lot of players. Basically we used to run a first team filled with policemen. But they set up their own team. On top of that a lot of our youngsters left to go to other sides."

Now after three consecutive relegations players like Roger Brown and James Belsham have returned to the club from Clacton.

But Ferris says it is essential the progress is made off the field to keep players at the club.

"People may lose interest travelling to Braintree every week," he added.

The school has submitted a lottery application to help fund the artifical pitch plan which will cost around £500,000 in total. The hockey club would put £25,000 towards the cost.

A decision is expected soon and the club hope the facility will be in place by the end of the year.

On Saturday Witham host East London at Braintree.

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