Bury Hockey Club have stepped up training at their base at Castlebrook High School in preparation for the new season, which starts in early next month.

The ladies’ second team won a cup and promotion last season, while the ladies' third team reached a cup final and the men's first team pushed hard for promotion.

But in a mixed campaign, the ladies’ first team and men’s second team were both relegated.

Ahtisham Khan has been installed as new coach in the men’s section, while Adam Johnson has been made second-team captain and Jennifer Matthews will skipper the ladies' first team.

The men's first and second teams will both be targetting promotion from their respective divisions, North West Hockey League Division Three and Six North, as will the ladies' first team from Division Two of the Greater Manchester Women’s Hockey League.

The ladies’ second team will be looking to build on their incredible feats of last season by consolidating their new place in Greater Manchester Division Two, while also mounting another cup run.

The new season will start with a bang for the ladies’ section as the first and second teams meet each other in the opening league fixture of the season on September 17.

Senior training takes place at Castlebrook High School on Wednesday evenings, 8-10pm, while junior training is on Fridays from 6-8pm, again at Castlebrook High School.

All three sections of the club are looking for new members – both players and umpires – and anyone interested can contact the club at buryhockeyclub@hotmail.co.uk or visit the website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/buryhockeyclub