The Leominster Hockey Club was established in 1894, 2 years before Hereford Hockey Club. The earliest game played between the 2 teams was 6th February 1896, played at the Wyeside ground in Hereford and resulted in a 2-2 draw. They then went on to play Ludlow Hockey Club (Founded also in 1896) on 21st March and won 4-1.
An interesting reference to Leominster Hockey is made on the Worcester Hockey Club website. Worcester appear to be the oldest club in the area establishing in 1892. However there website history states:-
“During the second season a new club started at Pershore (1893) then clubs at Leominster, Bridgnorth and Kidderminster also delighted the hearts of the faithful in the county town and matches with all those clubs were arranged. They have all ceased to exist now save Worcester.”
Perhaps all these years later they should visit and see how alive and kicking the club is!
‘The game against Worcester must have been informal, as the establishment of the club is well reported in the local press, as is the first official club match on 6th December 1894, a 12-2 win against Shrewsbury.
The club has published a detailed history of the first 50 years of its existence, also incorporating ladies’ and mixed hockey in Leominster and references to the many other local clubs that existed during this period. Consisting of 80 pages in A5 size, and containing 8 photographs of men’s and ladies’ teams, copies are available from the author, Peter Lewis, Wellow, Newlands Drive, Leominster, HR6 8PR. Please send a cheque for £5 payable to Leominster Hockey Club, together with a self-addressed envelope stamped for large letter format up to 250 gms.’