FUNDING cuts have put one of the University of Bradford's oldest, biggest and most successful sports clubs in danger of having to slash their playing options.

The University of Bradford Hockey Club were named Club of the Year for the third time last year – the most that any club has won it since the university was founded in 1966.

The club field men's and women's teams in both the BUCS (British University College Sports) and the Yorkshire leagues, and reckon they need almost £6,000 to carry on in their current guise.

Frances Tarren, the club's president for 2015-16, and outgoing president James Hughes say: "Previously we have sourced our funding solely from the Students' Union but, due to a loss in funding, they are having to cut back on the amount they can supply to sports clubs.

"This cut in funding is hitting our club particularly hard.

"Our Student Union is cutting funding to our Yorkshire League teams, both men and women.

"We want to continue playing in the Yorkshire League, as well as the BUCS, but this means we need to raise about £6,000."

The breakdown is £1,500 travel expenses for both teams, £1,200 for both teams' teas and £255 for both teams' entry fees to the Yorkshire League.

The presidents added: "As a club, we lose most of our experienced players every year as they graduate, and have to recruit, train and restructure our teams with new players.

"Yet every year we are still able to hold our own, even win and be promoted against far bigger and experienced clubs throughout Yorkshire and the north.

"Because of this weekend league, we are able to develop our newest players and bring them up to a good standard.

"Even now when we have our old boys and girls back, they speak of the Yorkshire League with great fondness."

The University of Bradford's Yorkshire League teams were in Men's Division Three and Women's Division Five in 2014-15 but both were relegated.

The presidents added: "We are also able to display success when representing the university in varsity matches against Huddersfield University, which is arguably the most important sporting event in our calendar.

"The men's team have now won that match for 12 years, while the women haven't lost their varsity game in four years.

"Our members are hugely committed, they train up to three times a week and attend social events every week, often giving up their free time at weekends to play while still studying full time at university."

Sponsorship opportunities include bronze level (£100 for a small logo on the club banner hung in the Student Union), silver level (£500, medium logo in SU's club banner, plus a small logo on the playing tops), gold level (£2,000 for a large logo in SU's club banner, plus large logo on playing tops and training tops) and platinum level (£6,000 for a large logo in SU's club banner, plus any size and number of logo on playing tops and training tops).

Interested parties should contact universityofbradfordhockeyclub@gmail.com.