Antrim Hockey Club
Encyclopedia
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| Address | Moylena, Nursery Park, Muckamore, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
| Website | www.antrimhockeyclub.co.uk |
| Chairman 2007-2008 | Paul Whiteside |
| Secretary 2007-2008 | Andy Gleghorne |
| 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 | 1894 |
| Club Colours | Blue and white |
Antrim 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 Muckamore Cricket Club, Moylena, Nursery Park, Belfast Road, Muckamore. Home fixtures are played on the sand-filled artificial surface at the Local Council owned Antrim Forum in Antrim
Antrim, County Antrim
Antrim is a town in County Antrim in the northeast of Northern Ireland, on the banks of the Six Mile Water, half a mile north-east of Lough Neagh. It had a population of 20,001 people in the 2001 Census. The town is the administrative centre of Antrim Borough Council...
town. The Club was founded in 1894 and was one of the founding members of the Ulster Hockey Union
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....
. Antrim Hockey Club First Eleven currently play in Section One 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:...
.
Grounds
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the playing pitches were located in the Castle Grounds, Antrim.
In 1970 another pitch was acquired at the Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
shore on ground owned by the then Club President. Also in 1973 a new gravel pitch became available when the Antrim Forum opened.
In 1972 the Club agreed an alliance with Antrim Rugby Club. An old stable in the Castle grounds was converted into a Clubhouse and premises developed at Allen Park. Changing accommodation with three hockey pitches, two grass and one gravel, along with three rugby pitches were constructed and first used in 1979. The Ireland v Scotland International was played on the grass pitch in 1980. The building of a Clubhouse was completed in 1985.
In 1991, Antrim (borough) constructed a new sand filled artificial turf pitch at Antrim Forum. The Club Annual General Meeting in June of that year decided that all five of the Club teams would play as much as possible on the new pitch. Later at a Special Meeting in April 1995 the majority of those present decided to terminate the relationship with the Rugby Section. Since then Meetings and after match socialising now takes place at Muckamore Cricket Club.
Early successes
Antrim was a major force in the early years of the Ulster Hockey UnionUlster 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....
. 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:...
and Kirk Cup
Kirk 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...
were both regularly won by Antrim. The Club was one of the original members and the first ever winners of the Ulster Senior League.
All-Ireland competitions
Antrim have never won the Irish Senior CupIrish 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:...
. They lost their first final to Limerick PYMA by 2 goals to 1 on 31 March 1928. Despite a protest against one of the umpires the result stood. In 1954 the first team lost another Irish Senior Cup Final to Dublin YMCA.
The second team has fared better in the 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...
. Their first Final in 1899-1900 resulted in a 2-1 defeat by Corinthians Second XI. However the other three Final appearances resulted in victories. The Cup was won twice in successive years, in 1947 beating Roscrea, from Co Tipperary by two goals to one, and in 1948 beating Pembroke Wanderers Seconds by three goals to two. The last Irish Junior Cup success came in 1976 when Limerick PYMA were beaten by two goals to one.
Domestic Record after World War II
The first team won the 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:...
four times in six years, between 1947 and 1952.
The last major successes for the first team came in the Kirk Cup
Kirk 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...
win in 1965-66 and in the 1971-72 season where the Kirk Cup was shared with Instonians
Instonians
Instonians is the name of the umbrella organisation that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name....
after two replays. The Cup, which had been on display in Hall's Hotel in Antrim, survived a terrorist bomb which exploded outside severely damaging the building.
The first team survived three relegation Senior League play off's, against Bangor in the 1963-64 season, Queen's University
Queen's University Hockey Club
Queen's University Hockey Club Men's Section was formed at Queen's in the latter part of the nineteenth Century. The Belfast News Letter reported the Ulster Hockey Union AGM of 19 September 1898, and recorded that "a committee meeting was held afterwards when Queen's College Hockey Club was...
in the 1982-83 season and Cliftonville
Cliftonville Hockey Club
Cliftonville Hockey Club is a hockey club based at C.I.Y.M.S. Sports Club, Circular Road, Belfast. Home fixtures are played on a sand-filled artificial surface. The club was founded in 1896 and was one of the founding members of the Ulster Hockey Union. The 1st XI currently plays in Section One of...
in the 1984-85 season.
In the 1985-86 season the first team headed the League until well into the new year before finally finishing third, behind Belfast Y.M.C.A. and Banbridge. 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:...
Final was lost 1-0, in extra time, to Banbridge
Banbridge Hockey Club
Banbridge Hockey Club is a hockey club based in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. The club currently plays in the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League. The club was formed in 1897.-Grounds:...
. This would prove to be Antrim's last successful season in Section 1 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:...
. A road traffic accident on the 27 September 1986 caused the deaths of three first team players. The loss of these players contributed to the relegation of the First X1 at the end of the 1987-88 season.
Antrim have finished near the top of Senior League Section 2 (re-named as Section 1 when Section 1 was re-named as the Premier League in 2001) in every season since, falling short of regaining their long held Senior 1 status.
Honours
- 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:...
- 1897-98, 1900-01, 1902-03, 1904-05, 1907-08, 1920-21, 1926-27, 1927-28, 1929-30.
- 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...
(6 wins and 1 share)- 1898-99, 1900-01, 1904-05, 1906-07, 1927-28, 1965-66.
- (Shared) 1971-72.
- 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:...
- 1921-22, 1925-26, 1928-29, 1938-39, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1950-51, 1952-53 (incomplete)
- 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...
(3 wins)- 1946-47, 1947-48, 1975-76.
International Players
Seven Antrim playing members have represented Ireland at Full International level.- Armatage Moore - Capped for the first time in 1899. 3 Caps in total.
- Thomas McElderry - Capped once in 1900.
- Samuel Rea - Capped once in 1902.
- John Entwhistle - Capped once in 1904.
- Francis Robinson - Capped twice whilst a member of Antrim.
- George Clarke - Capped three times.
- Alvin Carson - Antrim's most capped player with 90 appearances in goal, with his initial Cap in 1970. Alvin also gained recognition on 10 occasions with the Great Britain hockey team. After retiring as a player, Alvin became an FIH International Umpire. He died 25 February 2005, aged 59.
Administrators
Seven Antrim members have served as Ulster BranchUlster 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....
President.
- George Hurst in 1900 - the second ever President of the Ulster Branch.
- William Heney from 1911 - 1920
- Robert H Coulter in 1924. He was also Irish Hockey UnionIrish Hockey AssociationThe Irish Hockey Association is the governing body for the game of hockey throughout the island of Ireland.The Association was formed in 2000 with the merger of the Unions that managed the men's and women's game separately. These Unions had governed the sport of hockey since the late 19th...
President in 1934-35, the only Antrim man ever to hold that position.
- Nathaniel M. Clarke in 1938
- Bob Fawcett in 1973
- Francis Baird in 1980
- George Houston in 1993
Outside holding Offices, the most notable other contribution by an Antrim club member was when John Kirk, J.P. presented the Ulster Hockey Union
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....
with the Ulster Challenge Cup. The Cup quickly became known as the Kirk Cup
Kirk 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...
.