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A Brief History of
Cliftonville Hockey Club (Copyright Cliftonville Hockey Club)
Please email any
additions/alterations or contact a Committee member
As far as can be ascertained,
the club began its activities in 1926. Among its founder members were S.P.Glenn.
Sidney Glenn is widely recognised as having been the major driving force behind
the club's development and undoubted success -
"The standing of Cliftonville as one of the leading
clubs in Kent and the South has been largely due to Sidney Glenn's energy and
drive in the office of Hon. Secretary"
R.L Hollands Editor-Hockey News April 1967
The club's first game was played against Kent College in 1926, the score being
18 - 1 to the College.
"...our goal was scored by our
centre forward who was very much offside but their old Headmaster had not got
the heart to say ' off side '."
Sidney Glenn - Interview 1970
Unfortunately the early records and minutes of the club were destroyed when the
Presidents home was bombed in 1940. Thus little is known about the club before
this date.
It began as a mid week side playing on Thursday afternoon, early closing day.
Most of the Cliftonville players played for Westgate 'A' on Saturdays, captained
by Sidney Glenn. The Westgate 'A' mid week players finally combined to form the
Cliftonville Hockey Club, running two teams before the Second World War. The
club ceased playing between 1939 and 1945 but restarted in 1945, playing against
Service sides.
The club was the first sporting side of any kind to go into France after the
war, despite the inconvenience of obtaining visas and military permits. A past
President Mr N.H. Steed confirmed the date of this venture as 20th September
1946.
The club continued to make tours to the continent, often bringing home the
silverware.
The earliest minutes available
dated 18th April 1947 show that by that date the club had moved from playing at
Cliftonville to Hartsdown Park in Margate. The club moved to Jackey Bakers, The
Ramsgate Corporation Sports Ground for the start of the 1950-51 season.
Following a proposal by Sidney Glenn at an extra ordinary meeting on 15th
February 1950 a Margate Hockey Festival took place during the weekend of
29th-30th April 1950. The following year this festival became known as the
Thanet Hockey Festival.
The Thanet Hockey Festival was once the largest festival of its kind in the
world, significantly its chief organiser up to the 1970's was Sidney Glenn.
The club had early links with local schools. School boys were often influenced
to join the Cliftonville Hockey Club by the staff. However, as the following
story shows the type of "influence" was a cause for concern :
"A rival club had received a number of complaints
from the parents of boys attending a local boarding school. They said that their
sons were returning home from matches 'late and smelling of alcohol'
A member of staff of the school approached the then president and was given
assurance that Cliftonville's policy was always to ensure that transport was
available so that youngsters could return from matches without being obliged to
attend the customary drinking".
N.H Steed-Interview 1970
The club was joined by the Thanetians in 1980 and in 1983 Ramsgate Ladies joined
to give the club a much needed Ladies section.
Over the years a number of Cliftonville players have gone on to play hockey at
County, National, International and Olympic level.
Perhaps Sidney Glenn 75 years ago, provided a foundation for the hockey
experiences that both past and present players remember and enjoy to this day.
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