Annadale Hockey Club
Encyclopedia
| Grounds | Lough Moss Leisure Centre, Carryduff, Co Down |
| Website | www.annadale.co.uk |
| Chairman 2007-2008 | Michael Graham |
| Secretary 2007-2008 | Lyn Lake |
| Sports | Men's Hockey |
| Branch | Ulster Branch of the IHA Ulster Hockey Union The Ulster Hockey Union is the administrative arm of the Irish Hockey Association with responsibility for men's hockey throughout the province of Ulster.... |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Club Colours | White, black and red |
Annadale Hockey Club is a hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
club based at Carryduff
Carryduff
Carryduff is a small town and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, about south of Belfast city centre. It had a population of 6,595 people in the 2001 Census....
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. The club currently plays in the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League
Ulster Senior League (Men's Hockey)
The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
.
Formation
The club started life as Annadale Grammar School Former Pupils in 1968. It soon, however, became an open club. The connection with Annadale Grammar SchoolAnnadale Grammar School
Annadale Grammar School for Boys was an all-boys school located on the Annadale Embankment skirting the River Lagan in south Belfast, Northern Ireland...
, now Wellington College
Wellington College Belfast
Wellington College Belfast is a co-educational grammar school located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The current principal is Mr Matthew Pitts. The school was formed when, in 1990, the all-boys' Annadale Grammar School and the all-girls' Carolan Grammar School merged to become a single...
, is still strong. Coaching continues and the school playing facilities are still used by junior teams.
Early ascent
The club quickly rose through the league structure, gaining promotion to senior status following its Intermediate League win in 1970-71. Senior League 1 was attained for the first time after Section 2 was won in the 1975-76 season.In 1977, the club lost in the Ulster Section final of the Irish Senior Cup
Irish Senior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Senior Cup is the premier knock-out trophy played for by the best men's hockey clubs in Ireland. It is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.-Historical format:...
. Consolation came in the form of the club's first senior trophy when the Anderson Cup
Anderson Cup (Ulster hockey)
The Anderson Cup is a hockey tournament for clubs that are members of the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League. The current holder is Banbridge.-Trophy:...
was won in that same season.
1980s consolidation
The club's initial spell in the top section of the Ulster Senior LeagueUlster Senior League (Men's Hockey)
The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
lasted five years. There followed a period when Annadale bounced between Section 1 and Section 2. The 1984-85 season saw Annadale win promotion to the top section again, a status that has been held ever since.
A highlight during this period was the success in reaching the final of the Irish Senior Cup
Irish Senior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Senior Cup is the premier knock-out trophy played for by the best men's hockey clubs in Ireland. It is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.-Historical format:...
.
Millennium successes
The 1999-2000 season saw Annadale win the Kirk CupKirk Cup
The Kirk Cup is the oldest hockey tournament in Ulster and the oldest provincial hockey trophy in Ireland. It has become a tradition since the 1966-67 season for the final to be played on Boxing Day, a date previously reserved for the Anderson Cup Final. The final attracts the largest crowd of the...
for the first time. Finally in the 2002-03 season the club attained the top spot in the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League
Ulster Senior League (Men's Hockey)
The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
. The league has been won every season since then.
The second team also sampled success, with four Irish Junior Cup
Irish Junior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Junior Cup is a knockout trophy played for field hockey clubs in Ireland. Entry is open to sides that do not qualify for the Irish Senior Cup and to the second teams of clubs that play in the Irish Senior Cup...
wins.
Notable players
Annadale's recent dominance of the Ulster Premier League is due to key players in the 1st XI team. In the recent years many players have represented both Ulster and Ireland. David Smyth and Chris Jackson would be two players mainly responsible for this dominance; however players such as Iain Lewers, Jonathan Moore, Ian Hamilton, David Robb, Jonathan Quigley and Neil Stewart can not be discounted.Iain Lewers is currently playing professionally in the Netherlands for EHL 2008 Runners Up HGC.
Honours
- Irish Junior CupIrish Junior Cup (Men's Hockey)The Irish Junior Cup is a knockout trophy played for field hockey clubs in Ireland. Entry is open to sides that do not qualify for the Irish Senior Cup and to the second teams of clubs that play in the Irish Senior Cup...
- 1999-00, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06
- Ulster Senior LeagueUlster Senior League (Men's Hockey)The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
- 2002-03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
- Kirk CupKirk CupThe Kirk Cup is the oldest hockey tournament in Ulster and the oldest provincial hockey trophy in Ireland. It has become a tradition since the 1966-67 season for the final to be played on Boxing Day, a date previously reserved for the Anderson Cup Final. The final attracts the largest crowd of the...
- 1999-00, 2003-04, 2007-08
- Anderson CupAnderson Cup (Ulster hockey)The Anderson Cup is a hockey tournament for clubs that are members of the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League. The current holder is Banbridge.-Trophy:...
- 1976-77, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2004–05, 2006–07