Sudbury Hockey Club History

Club History

Sudbury Hockey Club was founded in 1912 in Long Melford. The Club moved its ground to Star Stile at Halstead 4 years later. In 1939 the Club moved to Quay Lane, but not for long, as any playing ambitions were interrupted by the war. The Club disbanded whilst players went off to attend to more serious matters. On successful completion of the war, no Hockey was played in Sudbury for another 10 years, when, in 1955, Lander Steed and Bob Ellison reformed the Club.

Prior to this there was a problem of where to play, as their first choice at Quay Lane was being used by Sudbury Town F.C.. However, when the footballers decided to move to the Priory Ground, the Hockey Club were then able to play again at Quay Lane in 1956.

Teams played on the grass there, together with gravel pitches at Sudbury and Gt. Cornard Sports Centres in the late 1980's, until the astroturf era arrived. In the 1991/92 season, our Mens 1st eleven travelled to Harwich (the nearest astroturf) to play their 'home' games whilst the Campaign for a nearer Astro gained momentum; a round trip of 70 miles.

A partnership was formed with Gt Cornard Upper School to fund the building of 'our own' astroturf pitch at Gt Cornard Sports Centre. The majority of the cost was met through grants from Suffolk Count Council, Babergh District Council, the Sports Council and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. Local support also came from the Sudbury Common lands Trust not forgetting that Sudbury Hockey Club members raised £10,000 towards the project! It was opened in May 1993.

The Clubhouse at Quay Lane remains the headquarters of the Club and is still a warm and inviting social centre.

Up to 1978-79, there was 1 Mens and 1 Ladies Team
1979-80 - introduction of Mens 2nds
1981-82 - introduction of Mens 3rds
1985-86 - introduction of Mens Veterans
1988-89 - introduction of Ladies 2nds
1992-93 - introduction of Ladies 3rds/Vets
2001-02 - vets withdraw & introduction of Mens 4ths
2003-04 - withdrawal of Ladies 3rds/Vets
2003-04 - introduction of Ladies Talbots & Ladies Tigers
2004-05 - withdrawal of Ladies Talbots & Ladies Tigers
2004-05 - introduction of Ladies 3rds & Ladies 4ths

JUNIOR COACHING

This began back in the late 1980's which was held on the old grass pitch at Quay Lane every Sunday morning, spearheaded by Mick Bashford.
It has been maintained and priorotized by the Club ever since, and currently has about 50 youngsters between 6 and 12 attending Sunday morning sessions, and about 40 attending the 12 to 16 session on Thursday evenings, both on the astroturf.