Antwerp, July 6 (IANS): The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Monday announced that the FIH Foundation and The Hockey Museum (THM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalises the collaboration between them to work together to preserve the sport's heritage.

"With the help of the FIH Foundation, THM is determined to obtain formal museum status in the UK through gaining Museum Accreditation and to achieve international recognition as a leading sports museum. These aspirations are complementary to one of FIH's goals -- to build a recognised, powerful image for hockey," FIH said in a statement.

Set up in Woking, England, four years ago by a group of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, THM has made excellent progress in pursuit of its strategic goal of preserving and presenting all aspects of the history of hockey for the education and enjoyment of the hockey family and general public.

THM is working towards building a sustainable fully functioning museum and archive which will give the game's history a future by sharing its heritage and bringing its history to life.

THM chair Katie Dodd said: "I am delighted that THM has signed a MOU with the FIH Foundation. We are already receiving valuable support from FIH but a formal agreement with our sport’s governing body and its Foundation will have a big impact on the development of THM and on its ability to give hockey’s history a future."

FIH president Leandro Negre said: "Hockey has an amazing heritage which we want to both promote and protect. My sincere thanks to the volunteers at THM who work so hard in performing a unique and vital job for our great sport and I look forward to working together to develop the enormous potential of THM.”