Hockey pitch dream becomes reality
Hokey club Merode in Grimbergen used the Winwin loan to raise money from sympathisers for a new artificial grass pitch. “Everything started four years ago with my wife’s dream of establishing a hokey club in the municipality,” says chairman Benoit Maerten. The brand new pitch was used for the first time in March this year.
Hockey players from Grimbergen had to go all the way to Kontich to play their sport until four years ago. “My wife dreamed of having our own club in our municipality, with an artificial turf pitch,” explains chairman Benoit Maerten. “All in all, we estimated the costs at about 670,000 euros. We looked for funds from the municipality, the province and the Flemish government, although it was not at all certain that they would provide subsidies. We also knocked on the banks’ doors, of course, but they are reluctant to get involved with sports associations. To convince them, we hoped to raise EUR 150,000 with Winwin loans. We exceeded that amount. In just under a month and a half, the club managed to engage more than 60 families. We are very happy with this financial commitment from our members: it also makes the club truly ‘their’ club rather than the board’s club.”
