The West Bridgford Old Boys

WBHC was founded in 1928 as by a group of former scholars. All the original members were 18 or under and the Club had no funds. During the first season most fixtures were away and not many games were won. The Club just about broke even that year and this has been the aim ever since!
By the end of that season, the Club had managed to obtain use of the Boots ground at Lady Bay for home fixtures and Frank Wain became captain. Frank, later a life member of the Club, held the position for 20 years. In 1930/31 home games moved to Highfields and the first Club Dinner was held that season.
Around this time, the Club opened membership to non old scholars and by 1934 we had 4 players in the Notts side, the first having been Frank Wain. The Club did well until the outbreak of war when it survived by dint of combining with Meridian and organising ad hoc games as and when possible. Sammy Hall and Alf Cooper kept the Club going through this time.

Post War

Although several members died in the war, we were able to start again in 1946 with 2 sides, soon rising to 3. The Club was not strong, however, and in 1950/51, the Club 1st team failed to win a single game! A recruitment drive followed and results picked up as we moved to the Old West Bridgfordians' Memorial ground in West Bridgford. This move was not entirely successful and we soon moved back to Highfields.

In 1965, responding to the reality that not many players actually came from the school, the Club changed its name to West Bridgford Hockey Club, as we are today. A 4th team was started shortly thereafter and since then, with a few hitches, the Club has continued to grow. A major factor in the growth was the move back to West Bridgford in 1972, when we moved on to the superb grass pitches at West Park and, the following year, into the brand new (smart!) pavilion that we occupy today.

To the End of the Last Century

Since that date, we have had our ups and downs, but we have steadily expanded until today, when we run 9 mens' teams. The main change in hockey in that time has been the introduction of Astro turf to replace grass pitches. We have been fortunate that one of the first such pitches was laid by Notts CC at Wilford Sports Complex and we took the opportunity of a regular booking there. Since then, further pitches have been laid at the West Bridgford School, (our main base), Rushcliffe Leisure Centre and the Boots Ground. We use them all!

Throughout this time, we took the view that it is important to generate atmosphere in the clubhouse, so we made sure that teams finished their games at similar times so that they could meet their friends in the club house afterwards.

At the same time, our then bar manager Derek Wise, introduced a policy of stocking real ale, long before this became generally popular. From being known for our dreadful beer, we overnight became a real ale haven in West Bridgford. See separate section for more information on our ales.

In to the 21st Century

Following the GB mens' team's Olympics success in 1988, we realised that the future for hockey lay in attracting more juniors and we began Sunday coaching from that date. Since then the numbers have increased and we now attract some 40 juniors to our Sunday morning sessions at Rushcliffe Leisure Centre. (See the Junior Section for more details)

Off the field, we have supplied a good number of officials to both County and Midlands association and, more recently, to help run the rapidly expanding leagues throughout the Midlands. Both Arthur Sandford and Martin Gotheridge have been honoured by being elected President of the Midlands Association and Martin has done much unsung work at both Midlands and national level for the English Hockey Association.
On the field, we have supplied many players to the county squads at senior and junior levels. Surprisingly, for a mens' club, our most famous former junior is Helen Richardson, who went on to represent GB at the Sydney Olympics. Her brothers, Andrew and Steven, both play in the National League Premier Division, for Canterbury and Surbiton respectively.

2003 saw the great change in the Clubs' home base - moving to our new clubhouse built with help from the Lottery and a great deal of effort from many Club members. At the same time the Club merged with Monarchs Ladies hockey club to form West Bridgford Monarchs Hockey Club (WBMHC). And the rest they say is History!

2003 saw the great change in the Clubs' home base - moving to our new clubhouse built with help from the Lottery and a great deal of effort from many Club members.