A FEW weeks ago if anyone had said that nine million people would tune in to BBC One on a mid-summer Friday night to watch a game of women’s hockey, I wouldn’t have believed it.

That the Beeb would delay News at Ten by popular demand so the coverage could be uninterrupted? Surely not.

Maybe I’m biased, but in a remarkable Olympics full of triumph for the likes of Mo Farah, the Brownlee brothers and brilliant Amy Tinkler, the history-making victory of the Team GB women’s hockey team seems to have really caught the country’s imagination.

The passion, commitment and will to win of the players, combined with their positivity and immense team ethic has struck a chord with the sport-watching public.

The fact that a team from these shores finally managed to win a crucial penalty shoot-out was an added bonus.

I’ve been playing club hockey since secondary school when PE teacher Sandra Horner introduced me to Northallerton Hockey Club.

The club is almost unrecognisable now from the one I joined nearly 20 years ago.

Back then we had one ladies’ team and about 20 members. Now we have two senior women’s teams in the Yorkshire League and six junior teams (boys and girls). Membership is almost 150.

Like in all sports at grassroots level, the club, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, depends on a core of volunteer administrators and coaches, supported by parents and the players themselves.

There wouldn’t be any clubs without these volunteers and it was no coincidence to hear many of the victorious GB women using their post-match interviews to talk about the value of club hockey, and their hopes of inspiring new players, of any age and gender, to the sport.

Star striker Alex Danson said: “We came here to do a job and if the by-product of that is people back home want to pick up a stick then please get to your clubs.”

Her words were echoed by teammate Nicola White, who told the BBC: “If we can inspire one person, not just to take up hockey, but any sport, and just be involved and active then it’s job done.”

At Northallerton, we’ve already had inquiries over the weekend from new people interested in coming along to training, so it looks like the players’ hopes are being realised.

The challenge now will be to make sure that clubs get the support they need in terms of finances and facilities from our governing body and local authorities to help build on the Olympic success.

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As well as giving the profile of hockey the biggest boost imaginable, the GB performance – winning eight straight games to beat world champions Netherlands to gold – also feels like an important moment in women’s sport. Hopefully now such a wide audience has seen how dedicated, skilful and downright exciting it can be, there will be a new respect for women’s team sport in general among the media and the public.

The reaction I generally get to being a hockey player varies from people who think I must have a violent, bloodthirsty streak, to people who think, ‘how nice, having a jolly trot around with your friends’, to people who simply can’t understand why you would want to drive to Huddersfield on a rainy Saturday morning in November to sprint around a pitch for 70 minutes.

Aside from the obvious health benefits of sport, there are so many other reasons to take it up. I’ve made brilliant friends through the game, won and lost countless good-natured battles and travelled around the country. It’s also a great stress reliever.

For me, one of the best things about being part of Northallerton Hockey Club is watching as new members - sometimes shy young children, sometimes new mums who want to regain their fitness, sometimes older players returning to the game – grow in confidence through sport.

There is also a joy in being part of something active and positive, and helping others to achieve their potential.

Hockey really is a game for everyone. It can be played by any age, shape or size, and the feeling you get from pulling together as a team through thick and thin is difficult to match in any other aspect of life.

The incredible performance by the GB women’s team has shown the value of winning in terms of publicity and goodwill for a sport. Hopefully now, their legacy will be that simply taking part becomes just as important.

*For more information on Northallerton Hockey Club see www.pitchero.com/clubs/northallertonhockeyclub

*To find your nearest hockey club go to www.englandhockey.co.uk and click Play Hockey