Club History
One of the very early member clubs of the Cheshire County Hockey Association, Wilmslow Men‘s Hockey Club was founded in 1896/97. Little is known of its early history but a team photo to 1899 is believed to have been taken in the Rectory Field. There was, however, no continuity of existence during the war years. Rev D, M, Brookes restarted things in 1947/48 with a Parish Church Youth Club team. This team played in the local Youth Clubs Mixed Hockey League.
The Club‘s first full season as Wilmslow Men‘s HC was in 1957/58, resplendent in royal blue and white halved shirts. One lively AGM in 1964, certain members fuelled by drink, decided the club strip was boring and clashed too often with the opposition. “Why don‘t we wear those luminous orange motorway shirts then we‘ll never clash with anyone?” quipped one member. The following was greeted with hysterical laughter after which the evening degenerated further. The following day it dawned on the Secretary that he had to go and organise two sets of bright orange shirts.
After playing on the Rectory Fields (before construction of Wilmslow Leisure Centre) the Club moved to its new home at Oakwood Farm, Styal, with three grass pitches and a purpose-built clubhouse in 1980. This Clubhouse and surrounding grounds are now shared with a Lacrosse and Cricket section under the Wilmslow Phoenix umbrella. Due to rule changes the Hockey Club were required to play their matches on the Astroturf at Wilmslow High School and over this period the Club also developed its thriving Ladies and Junior sections. September 2005 saw the opening of the Club‘s own Astroturf by its Clubhouse in Styal which started a new era for the Club
