A HISTORY OF POTTERS BAR HOCKEY CLUB
Cricket has been played at The Walk in Potters Bar since 1931, but it was not until 1948 that a number of the cricket members formed Potters Bar Hockey Club to provide some exercise during the winter months. The two clubs operated independently until 1970, when the new Potters Bar Cricket Club, comprising cricket, hockey and table tennis sections, was formed, with the Ladies Hockey Section subsequently joining us as an additional section in 1973.
PBHC Men continued with a fixture card of friendlies until the advent of League Hockey in the mid-seventies, with our initial berth in the Middlesex Leagues changing to the newly formed Herts & Beds League shortly thereafter. This in turn was subsequently followed by admission to the Eastern Counties Leagues during the early 1980's, by which time PBHC were running three mens sides on a Saturday and occasional mixed hockey on a Sunday.
In an attempt to create a larger hockey club and to overcome the usual problem experienced by the smaller clubs of finding fixtures, Potters Bar Hockey Club merged with Barnet Hockey Club in 1996 to form South Herts Hockey Club. Whilst this was a solution that worked well for our Ladies, who still play as South Herts HC today, the amalgamation was not a success for the Men, with the result that South Herts HC (Men) ended in 1999, and 50 years of mens hockey in Potters Bar came to a close. Only temporarily though, in that a group of elderly members reformed Potters Bar HC in time for the 2001/02 season and 7 matches were played. This was increased to 14 in the 2002/03, whilst the elderly members referred to have now been joined by a group of younger and rather more fit new members. In the 2003/04 season we rejoined the league playing in East Hockey's South West Division 8. The season was a great success with Potters Bar finishing 15 points clear at the top of the table. This success was followed up last season with the runner's-up spot in SW7 - narrowly missing out on our second successive title by a single point! As a result, for the coming season we are playing in South West Division 6.
We play our home games on Astro at Dame Alice Owen School (1st team games push-back at 1:30pm, 2nd team games push-back at 3:00pm) and welcome any new members to help consolidate and strengthen the club.
Richard West
Club Chairman
