Cambridge South Hockey Club

Who - What - Where - How

Background

Cambridge South Hockey Club is based in the city of Cambridge, UK.

The club runs ladies' and men's league teams, playing on Saturdays during the season, along with social mixed teams on occasional Sundays.

We offer opportunities for both experienced players and those new to the sport to play at a level that suits them.

A new junior section was formed in 2016, training on Saturday mornings before the senior games. Numbers have quickly grown to over 100 young players.

In 2014 the club moved to the brand new pitch at Long Road Sixth Form College, laid by the London 2012 pitch contractors. Our club house, shared with Cantabs RUFC, is situated immediately opposite the college.

Great Community

Players at the club cover a broad range of ages, from teenagers to veterans, but with a significant portion drawn from the university, both undergraduate and postgraduate students, and from recent and not-so-recent graduates working in the Cambridge area. Many members have moved to Cambridge for work or study and contribute greatly to the friendly, social nature of the club.

Great Success

Recent seasons have seen some of the best performances in the history of the club, with the 2018-19 season seeing three teams promoted, including the Men's 1st XI as champions of Division 2N, as well as the Ladies' and Men's 2nd XIs. The Men’s and Ladies’ 1st XIs each play in Division 1 of their respective leagues.

Great Future

Since 2007 the club has trebled in size, growing from fielding 4 to 12 league teams in that time. In 2020 every club team achieved its highest league finish on record. At the entry level of the leagues, the Men’s and Ladies’ 6th XI development sides provide hockey for a mix of old heads and new hands.

History

The detailed history of the Club has been lost in the mists of time, but we do know that it was formed in about 1935, originally as a company team for the paper manufacturer Spicers, based in the village of Sawston (south of Cambridge). At some point the club 'left home' and became Sawston Men's Hockey Club, still based in the village and playing at the grass pitches owned by Spicers. A separate Sawston Ladies’ Hockey Club was formed later.

The origins of hockey

In 1996 the club was forced to move its home games into Cambridge when league regulations changed to require that matches be played on artificial pitches. The club was initially based at the Perse School, then at a variety of pitches around the city before settling at Long Road in 2014.

Club Crest

The move into the city eventually resulted, at the end of the 1997/98 season, in the men's club deciding on a second change of name to Cambridge South Hockey Club with the ladies' club following suit the next season. Cambridge South Hockey Club (the men’s club) and Cambridge South Ladies’ Hockey Club, having historically been separate but increasingly-connected clubs, merged to form a single club in 2009.

L1s and L2s