After stepping away from the sport for several years due to the demands of teaching and parenthood. Droitwich’s Hockey midfielder Mark Bartle found his outlet again: hockey.
Having played Hockey for over ten years returning to the pitch gave him exactly that.
“When I’m here, I just don’t think of anything else. So completely my mind’s just blank of worries, stresses whether it’s work or home and then coming down here, Hockey just clears my mind.”
Mark’s love for the game started at a young age, whilst being a massive football fan his preferred sport is hockey. Life got hectic for Mark, trying to balance out his 20-year career as being a teacher, hockey took the back seat.
“My brother used to play. He doesn’t anymore, but that’s how I got into it.
And it was mainly my friends, first school, high school it really brought us together,” Mark said.
“Now I’m older, I work as a teacher by trade, which is a stressful job.”
Wednesday training sessions and Saturday matches now give Mark the break he needs.
“I enjoy the midweek break on a Wednesday, come down and train with the boys, and enjoy getting out the house on a Saturday, bit of fresh air.”
On the pitch, Mark has started every game for the Droitwich 1’s. After four games, his side is unbeaten and being newly promoted from West Midlands Division 6 the squad is hoping for another good season.
“Our season is going very good. We were promoted last season into something called West Midlands Division 5 and we haven’t lost a game so far going four from four.
“Top of the league, just hoping that my teammates and I can keep up this winning from and who knows perhaps another promotion to the next league.”
HONE Athletics co-founder Jessica Renney recently spoke about the importance of mental health in hockey.
“I’ll be totally honest; I’ve suffered previously in the past. It was actually my wife who got me back into hockey.
“I took a good, I’d say five, six years out of hockey when I became a teacher. Obviously teaching can be a really busy profession.” Said Mark
“I’ve got two young kids and things like hockey fall to the wayside. But my wife said, ‘why don’t you try get back out there, give it a go’.
“It’s not the only thing but it’s a big part in me just keeping my brain clear on a weekday and a weekend really. “
