LeekHockeyClub.co.uk
Title
Leek Hockey Club
Description
LEEK Hockey Club is special. We may not have the most up to date facilities for playing or socialising, but we make up for it by the welcoming atmosphere, the camaraderie and our encouragement and support of young players.'
So writes Basil Pickering, Chairman of the Hockey Club, in a special anniversary booklet published to mark the occasion of its 75th birthday. He goes on to say the club is at a crossroads and to move forward it needs younger members to take on the key positions to meet the challenges of the next 10 years. Certainly, Leek have had no shortage of young talent, with Chris Orme, Scott Cordon and Paul Nixon three of the more recent players to spring to mind. Now Mr. Pickering would like to see some of that talent generated towards the future success of the club.
Leek Hockey Club was formed in 1922 with all games during that inaugural season being played on 'Little Birchall' on the Cheddleton Road for a rent of £4. That followed a public meeting at the Labour Church on August 25 when it was decided to form a club. The following season, the club moved to Beggars Lane sports ground where it played for many years. During the Second World War, a few stalwarts, kept the club going, sometimes combining with Leek Park Ladies and also Cheddleton Ladies. Over the years, the club has gone from strength to strength and gradually additional teams have been added.
