Former Black Stick Robbie Matthews to lead Hockey Wanganui

Former Black Stick Robbie Matthews is the new operations manager of Hockey Wanganui. Photo/ Stuart Munro

Just as she was able to carve out a Black Sticks career from a Whanganui base, Robbie Matthews is hoping to give local players a pathway to the elite level in her new role.

Matthews is the new operations manager for Hockey Wanganui, taking over the role from Kylie Penn, who stepped down last month after seven years at the helm.

It's a sort of homecoming for Matthews, who lived in Whanganui for much of her 15-year New Zealand career.

In 2000 she took at job at Sport Waikato and was based in Otorohanga, assessing the sporting needs of the area and delivering programmes.

Matthews was in that role for 14 years and said it gave her a good grounding in the community and other sports.

She has recently been back involved with junior hockey in Whanganui, and coaching at a representative level, and when the role at Hockey Wanganui came up she jumped at it.

"Wanganui always supported me when I was in the New Zealand team," she said.

Matthews comes into the organisation at a time when player numbers are on the up and the Gonville hockey turf is about to be re-laid.

"I think it's really healthy at the moment. The turf is almost ready to go down, the numbers are great and there's some really good developments happening.

"There's lots more opportunities as well. I think there no reason more remote places can't provide opportunities for kids that are passionate about being Black Sticks one day."