AROUND TOWN
Rotherham Hockey Club:
Coming Home at 90
As we push on into autumn, Rotherham Hockey Club are celebrating two momentous occasions; not only is it their 90th anniversary this October, but the club are switching the field and shuttling back into Rotherham to start the 2017/18 season back on home ‘astro’ turf.
After the closure of the Firth Rixson Sports Club in Brinsworth four years ago, Rotherham Hockey Club lost their home ground and sought short-term refuge at Westfield Sports College, Sheffield for training and home fixtures.
However, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Aurora has been reincarnated by a partnership between the club and Sheffield Hallam University in a bid to bring hockey back to Rotherham.
Since its formation 90 years ago, when 11 members of Rotherham Main Tennis Club met one October night in 1927 to discuss playing a winter sport, RHC has operated from many home grounds, facing setbacks along the way.
The first games in 1927 were played on the colliery field before the colliery ceased facility provision due to the government’s new Rateable Land policy for sports grounds.
Before the 1929 season began, the club moved to Mr Merryweather’s field in Canklow. However, the owner kept horses on the field and players, armed with buckets and shovels, had the task of de-manuring the field before every game.
Rotherham Hockey Club 1950’s
After bouts at Herringthorpe Playing Fields and The Pitches at Stag, the club settled into the Aurora which they enjoyed for many years.
With its new revival, the facilities built by Kier will provide Rotherham’s only dedicated hockey pitch, with a floodlit, full size pitch and 7-a-side inter hockey pitches used by both senior and youth teams. Thanks to the generosity of members and friends of the club, Rotherham Hockey raised its own funds and contributed towards updating the desolate site.
As a family club, they offer coaching for children aged five and upwards, with their oldest player 76.
Establishing a youth team in the 80s, the club has seen a rising number of players pass through the youth side into their senior squads. Having started out at RHC aged 14, Youth Development Coach, David Woodward, has been fundamental in helping children and young
76
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
