Wilmslow Hockey Club
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One of the very early member clubs of the Cheshire County Hockey Association, Wilmslow Men's Hockey Club was founded in 1896/97. Little is known of its early history but a team photo dating to 1899 is believed to have been taken on the Rectory Field. There was, however, no continutity of existence during the war years.
[edit] History
Rev D. M. Brookes restarted things in 1947/8 with a Parish Church Youth Club team. This team played in the local Youth Clubs Mixed Hockey League.
The Clubs first full season as Wilmslow Men's HC was in 1957/8, playing in royal blue and white halved shirts.
In 1964, at the Annual general meeting certain members, fuelled by drink, decided the club strip was boring and clashed too often. "Why don't we wear those luminous orange motorway shirts then we'll never clash with anyone?" one said. The following was greeted with hysterical laughter after which the evening degenerated further. The following day it dawned on the secretary that he had to go and organize two sets of bright orange shirts.
After playing on the Rectory Field (before the construction of Wilmslow Leisure Centre) the Club moved to its new home at Oakwood Farm, Styal, with three grass pitches and a purpose-built clubhouse in 1980.
Although the men's section has had only occasional flirtations with glory, the Club has been responsible for grooming a large number of players who have gone on to play at the highest levels. The Cheshire, Durham, Derbyshire and Warwickshire county teams have all benefitted from players reared by WHC.
