Devizes Hockey Club

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The Club - An Introduction

Published: Saturday September 23 2006

One day in October 1996 I was recovering form a slipped disc at home and was visited by Mark, a friend of mine, he told me that Devizes Hockey Club was just about to start up a men’s section and they were looking for players. I was not in much condition to play any sport let alone Hockey at that time however in January 1997 I went to training at Dauntsey’s School and I haven’t really looked back since. In the early days we played the odd friendly but with the view of entering the league.

Our first league match was against Newent in October 1997 which resulted in a 9-0 victory. In that first season we won our Division quite easily and since then the men’s section has gone on to win a further 7 division titles. The men’s section grew steadily until the 2003/4 season when we finally started playing at Devizes Leisure Centre following the building of a synthetic pitch. The club now has 4 men’s and 3 ladies sides with numerous teams playing at various ages from 6 years old upwards.

Looking back much of the growth and subsequent success of the club has been down to it’s location but also to a number of people, namely Steve (Winkco) Wells who Captained the side for three years, Roger Edwards who came along one day on the off chance and then proceeded to Coach the side. Sam Gaiger, our current Captain, who has scored nearly 150 goals in 5 years and last but not least Phil Howell who started it in the first place.

There has always been a common goal and that is for the club to grow.

Toby Brown.