Ffion Davies tells us how sport has changed her life - And how she's never looked back
My sister once told me that the best piece of advice that I’ve ever given her was (although I’m sure
I’ve given quite a bit over the years as the eldest sibling): “whatever you do, join a sport team at
university”. That is what she did and never looked back.
As an English Teacher I implore my pupils to avoid clichés as much as possible, but I am going to dive
right in and say that ‘sport has changed my life’. Sport isn’t something I do, but live. It’s a part of my
everyday life and I wouldn’t change it. Not for a minute. Many of the closest people in my life are
sport fans, from friends, to my housemate, and beyond – it really is awesome finding with similar
goals and attitudes, it makes such a difference.
When I was 11 I discovered hockey at school. I was encouraged to join a local team, and after a stint
at one, I found another that still has a special place in my heart. It was a family affair. My cousins
played for Ardudwy ac Arfon Hockey Club and said they needed a keeper, and I was sold. I had
played keeper since I was 11, but the club became more than a team for me. The level of acceptance
and understanding from a group of like-minded girls who played, trained and socialised together on a
regular basis became the foundation to my development both as a player and as girl growing up. The
opportunities for development was vast, whether you wanted to try new positions on the pitch or
you wanted a role on the committee to further add to the experience of being part of a club, they
were supportive and embraced all ideas. I thrive on encouragement.
The friendship and relationships you form through sport seem to be cemented with something
rather special due to having to overcome a variety of challenges set against you, together as a team
effort. That bond fashioned together in piercing rain on a glum November Saturday afternoon amidst
the slumbering hills of somewhere really brings you together. Those moments are the ones that I
cherish. Those long trips in the car to away games where you are trapped amongst hockey bags,
extra coats and sandy shoes, with the soundtrack of cheese songs pulsating from the speakers of a
battered gold Fiat Punto are memories that were created because of hockey. Some of my best friends
today are the ones I played hockey at Lancaster University with. The ones who then became
housemates, and now become reunion friends where we come together from across the country to
catch up and relish in countless activities and continue to use those random nicknames you were
christened with in uni for no apparent reason but has stuck with you forever.
This ethos ripples through hockey as a sport. No matter which team I encounter, read about on
social media to playing against on the astro, those values that fundamentally entwine the members
of the sport together is utterly compelling. The inclusivity and pride of belonging to something really
rings true.
Today, I play hockey for Clwb Hoci Cymric, which as you can tell, is very proud of its Welsh roots. The
club was formed a few years ago to give Welsh speakers the opportunity to play hockey through the
medium of Welsh; a branch of Clwb Cymric Football and now Netball too. They have been nothing
less than awesome. When I moved down to Cardiff, I knew that joining a team would be an ideal
way of meeting new people, keeping fit and socialising, and I struck it lucky with these girls. They
have become a constant in my life that I am always looking forward to every week, whether it’s
training, matches or just a catch up at the pub.
I also write for Scoop Hockey, an online magazine I created a few years ago, but recently resurrected
because I feel more talk means more awareness, which can only be positive, right? This is a way I can
couple together two of my favourite things: writing and sport.
I honestly can’t stress the benefits of joining a club, whichever sport takes your fancy. If you’ve not
done it, do it! Clwb Hoci Cymric welcomes all speakers of all languages, naturally.
It’s Women’s Sport Week, but every week should be Women’s Sport Week - it is for me. Sport has
the ability to change lives, even in the smallest of ways but the rewards and benefits you’ll reap is
unimaginable. It’s all about the little things in life, so how about making a little change and get
involved? I promise you won’t regret it.
https://www.facebook.com/Hocicymric/