ladies hockey - Blackheath Ladies Hockey Club

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History of Blackheath Hockey Club

According to 'The History of Hockey' by Nevill Miroy (Published by Lifeline Ltd 1986) "the first Hockey club was undoubtedly Blackheath". It is believed that members of the Club which was formed originally by old boys of The Blackheath Proprietory School first met as early 1840 on the heath in south-east London. Miroy suggests in his book that the hockey Club was a natural evolution from a society of golfers that formed on Blackheath common in 1608 (incidentally the oldest golf club in the world).

The oldest remaining Club records date from 1861 and the Minute Book itself still exists. It is clear however that by this time the Club was well established - the minutes mention an increase in the annual subscription to 7/6d and refer to the retiring secretary Mr R. O'Neile.

Since 1952 the Club has been based at the current location in Rubens Street. During the years since then, Blackheath Hockey Club has been one of the Borough's leading sports clubs, having been runners up in the National Club Hockey Championship in both the 1983/84 and 1984/85 seasons, and winners of the National Indoor Hockey Club Championship in 1976/77.

Today the Club is part of a thriving sports club operating seven mens Saturday teams, as well as regular Sunday and festival teams and youth teams. Added to that, five ladies sides are now playing following the formation of Blackheath Ladies Hockey Club in 1982. The combined club with its cricket and squash sections currently has a playing membership approaching 300, plus more than 100 honorary members.