Surbiton Hockey Club will be hosting “The Big Weekend” as part of the England Hockey Board’s series of showcase events.

The event, held on March 2 and 3, coincides with both Surbiton's elite sides in home action, and is supported by a plethora of surrounding events.

The Ladies 1s, currently fourth in their 10-team league, are playing against eighth-placed University of Birmingham at 2pm on Saturday in their bid to obtain a top-four post-season Euro play-off place.

Then at 2pm on Sunday, the fifth-placed Mens 1s are trying to do the same, but up against Beeston, the current runaway league leaders.

There is a lot of supporting action going on around both these fixtures, with other club games throughout Saturday, and on Sunday an U18 girls’ national cup match at 11.30am and a Legends’ game (as part of the concurrent Old Members’ Day) at 3.30pm.

The national governing body, the England Hockey Board, will be present and providing a kids’ fun zone including the EHB mascot, a blow up pitch and practice “cage”.

The club itself will be erecting temporary seating and various other stalls and events to improve the spectator experience, including the opportunity to meet and greet their Olympians, a PA system for announcements, plus selling food and beverages.

It will be charging visitors £5 a day and also offers a £7.50 weekend pass, with all proceeds going to its big fundraising campaign to upgrade pavilion facilities and the second (sand-based) pitch: the main water-based pitch and floodlights having already been recently upgraded.

Event extras: Children's FunZone and food and drink available on both days.

Tickets available on the gate: £7.50 for weekend pass, £5 adults, U16s free.

Location: Surbiton Hockey Club, Sugden Road, Long Ditton, KT7 0AE (www.surbitonhc.com)

Club contact for event: Fergus Dunn (fergus.dunn@motion-se.com) - 07740 236415