History of South Nottingham Hockey Club

 

This article has been put together from two sources - an article which appeared in the Nottingham Observer in Jan 1958 and the potted history of the Club written by Life Vice President Dudley Walker.

SNHC was formed during the Summer of 1907 by members of the Notts Grosvenor Hockey Club. Provisional arrangements were made to share with the YMCA their ground at Trent Bridge, now the site of County Hall. The very first game was played there on 28th September 1907.

In the years before the First World War (1914 - 18) only one men’s team was fielded, but by 1922/3 the Club had moved to new facilities at Trent Lane, West Bridgford and a second men’s XI was formed. In 1924 SNHC secured a playing pitch at Radcliffe-on-Trent, but then moved again in 1928 when Nottingham Corporation made available new playing facilities at Highfields Sports Ground. The Club remained at Highfields for 30 years!!

When the Second World War started in 1939 the Club suspended its playing activities and those members who were either not in the forces or those on leave, were usually able to obtain a game with other Clubs of the County Association. Before the commencement of the season 1946/7, A S Groves, R B MacIntyre and a few of the old players met to gather the Club’s playing members and the uphill task of reforming the teams was successfully undertaken. In the first season only one XI could be fielded, but the following year the 2nds XI was reformed. Increasing membership led to a 3rd Mens XI being formed in 1956.

As part of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of 1958 the club joined forces with Beeston Hockey Club (who were also celebrating their Golden Jubilee). As a result of the hospitality of the University of Nottingham the clubs held a spectacular Dinner and Dance in the delightful Portland Building, merely a ‘roll in’ from their playing fields. Quote from 1958, “That two of the oldest Clubs in the County can indulge in such rivalry on the field of play yet associate themselves so closely in their social activities surely bodes well for the future of hockey in Nottinghamshire.”

Throughout the post-war period the Club owed much to its Patron W Clayton, F W Truman, the President, J H C Godfrey the Match Secretary and two energetic Captains, R B MacIntyre and B Notley.

Negotiations with the County Cricket Club saw the Club move to Trent Bridge in 1961. This arrangement was discontinued in 1965 and the club moved to a new ground on Holme Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent. In 1968 the Club had the opportunity to move its base to Radcliffe-on-Trent Cricket ground where it went on to share facilities with the local cricket club for more than a decade. By the early eighties the Club, now very well established, was seeking to expand. In 1983 the Club moved to Caythorpe Cricket Club, where space allowed the Club to utilise four grass pitches which in turn led to the creation of a mens 5th team and a regular mixed Sunday playing side Will Scarlets.

In more recent times Martin Gilbody was a member of the club from 1969 - 1995. He took over the 1st team captaincy from Chris Wheatcroft in 1971 and captained the side for over 12 years. He represented the Club at County level for over 20 years with over 169 County appearances. He played for the Midlands and was selected for the Welsh squad during which time he took part in 3 European Nations finals, 2 World Cup qualifying tournaments and attended the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. He went on to manage the Wales U21, Senior and Cannock HC National league squads.

Whilst the Club has always maintained a prominent position in Midlands and County (outdoor) hockey, we were also very successful in indoor hockey being Midland Indoor Club Champions in 1978, 1979,1981, 1982 and 1983. In 1981 the indoor squad reached the televised semi-finals of the National Indoor Competition which were played at Crystal Palace. They regularly entertained in the East Midlands League at the former John Player Sports Hall (David Lloyd Leisure Centre was built on this site at Aspley).

With the advent of Astroturf pitches, hockey changed very rapidly in terms of skills, tactics and the instigation of league hockey. Although popular, the new surface was socially debilitating with games being played consecutively rather than concurrent. It was not long before longstanding clubs in the locality started to fold (eg Notts Gregory and Derby). South Nottingham with its depth and quality of membership dug in deep to protect its history even when eight members of the first team left at the end of one season to play elsewhere.

The 1993/4 season saw the Club successfully launch its Ladies section.