Southgate Hockey Club

Southgate Hockey Club is a field hockey club in North London. It is based at Southgate Hockey Centre in Trent Park, near Oakwood. The club has 14 adult teams (2007), and a large junior section with teams playing at all age groups.

History

The club was formed in 1886. Matches were initially played in Broomfield Park; in 1890 the club relocated to the Walker Ground on Waterfall Road.

For most of its history, the club has been at the forefront of the sport in England, providing many players for the national side, and, prior to the formation of organised leagues in 1968, featuring prominently in the unofficial leagues published in the press.

The club won the Hockey Association Cup (now the England Hockey Cup) in 1975, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. In each of these years (prior to the introduction of the National League) the Cup winner was the national champion. The club won the inaugural National League in the season 1988/89, bringing the total of national titles to eight.

The club won the European Club Championship in 1976, 1977 and 1978, and won bronze in 1975 and 1983.

Southgate members who won bronze medals at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 were Sean Kerly, Richard Dodds, Steve Batchelor, James Duthie and David Westcott.

Southgate members who won silver medals at the Hockey World Cup in 1986 were Sean Kerly, Richard Dodds, Steve Batchelor, and John Shaw.

Southgate members who won gold medals at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 were Sean Kerly, Richard Dodds, Steve Batchelor and Robert Clift.

In order to meet the challenge created by the introduction of artificial grass pitches, the club began hiring pitches away from the Walker Ground from around 1985. After a search for a new location, the club relocated to Southgate Hockey Centre during the 1997/98 season.

In 1999, the club won the English indoor hockey title.

In 2008, the boys under 18s team won the English indoor hockey title.

External links

* [http://www.southgatehc.org.uk/ Southgate Hockey Club]
* [http://www.southgatehockeycentre.co.uk/ Southgate Hockey Centre]