Portrush Hockey Club
Encyclopedia
| Address | Seaview Park, Portrush, Co Antrim |
| Website | www.portrushhockey.com |
| secretary@portrushhockey.com | |
| Secretary 2007-2008 | Ian Jinks |
| 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 | 1909 |
| Club Colours | Amber and Black. |
Portrush 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 affiliated to the Ulster Branch
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....
of the Irish Hockey Association
Irish Hockey Association
The 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...
based in Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. The club currently plays in Section 2 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 was founded on 29 September 1909 at a meeting held in the Osborne Hotel, Portrush. The club initially joined and played in the North West Hockey League.Grounds
The first home ground from 1911-35 was at Metropole, moving to Randal Park from 1935-48. After 1948 the club found a permanent home at Seaview Park.The advent of artificial turf pitches has necessitated playing home fixtures away from Portrush. Currently the club uses Ballycastle artificial turf pitches and UUC pitches for the occasional game
1920s and 1930s
After World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Portrush achieved success in 1922 by winning the Braddell Shield. A win in the Intermediate Cup was gained the following year.
The North-West Senior Cup was won in 1924, 1927 and 1928.
Portrush won their first Major trophy when 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...
was secured in 1932. This team featured Fred Daly
Fred Daly (golfer)
Frederick Daly was a Northern Irish professional golfer who was best known for winning The Open Championship of 1947 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake.Daly was born in Portrush, County Antrim...
, who went on to become the Open Golf
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
champion in 1947.
At this time, Portrush moved to play in the Senior Qualifying 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:...
. At the end of the 1930s they won the Ulster Section 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:...
.
1940s to 1970s
Portrush won the 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...
for the second time in 1943, a feat that was repeated in 1946.
Senior status was granted in 1947, and was marked by the club winning 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...
and the Ulster Section 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:...
.
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 for the first time in the 1949-50 season.
In the 1957-58 Portrush tied a Test Match against 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:...
and both were declared joint winners of the Keightley Cup for 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:...
champions.
In 1963-64, Portrush beat Lisnagarvey
Lisnagarvey Hockey Club
Lisnagarvey Hockey Club is the most successful Irish men's hockey club. The club is based in Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland. It has a current membership of 700. The club also has a ladies section.-Formation:...
in the Ulster 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:...
, but went on to lose to Cork Church of Ireland in the all-Ireland semi-final.
The following year, 1964-65, was the club's most successful year. Portrush won 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:...
for the third time and they also beat 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:...
in the Kirk Cup Final. In addition, 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:...
was reached for the only time in Club history. After a 1-1 draw in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Portrush lost after extra time to Dublin YMCA in the replay.
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...
success in 1969-70 was the last time that Portrush would win a Senior trophy.
1970s to present day
The closure of Busmills Grammar School in 1975, meant that Portrush no longer had a feeder school. A long decline eventually led to the loss of Senior status in 1988.Senior status was obtained again for three years from 1993-94 until 1995-96 and for two years in 1999-00 and 2000-01.
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...
- 1931-32, 1942-43, 1945-46.
- 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:...
- Shared 1957-58.
- 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...
- 1948-49, 1964-65, 1969-70.
- 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:...
- 1949-50, 1962-63, 1964-65.
Irish Internationals
- James McVicker was capped for Ireland against Wales in 1914.
- Don Minihan
- Ronnie McManus
- Jimmy Shanks