Club History
A History of Potters Bar Hockey Club
It was in 1948 that a number of cricketers from Potters Bar Cricket Club decided that some exercise during the winter months would be beneficial, and as a result Potters Bar Hockey Club was formed. The two clubs continued independently until 1970, when the new Potters Bar Cricket Club, comprising of cricket, hockey and table tennis sections was set up. The Ladies Hockey Section, initially comprising of mainly the wives and girlfriends of the cricket and hockey playing members, was formed in 1976.
Potters Bar Hockey Club (Mens & Ladies) continued with a fixture card of friendly matches until the advent of league hockey in the min-1970s, when the Men’s Section initially secured a position in the Middlesex Leagues, changing to the newly formed Herts & Beds League shortly thereafter when the regular away trips to south of the river became increasingly tedious. This in turn was subsequently followed by admission to the Eastern Counties League, by which time the Club was running three men’s sides, two ladies and a mixed site on Sundays in addition.
In an attempt to create a larger hockey club and to overcome the usual problems experienced by the smaller clubs in finding fixtures for their lower sides, Potters Bar Hockey Club merged with Barnet Hockey Club in 1996 to form South Herts Hockey Club. Whilst this was a solution that worked out well for the Ladies Section, the amalgamation was not a success for the Men, with the result that South Herts Hockey Club Men’s Section ended in 1999 with 50 years of men’s hockey in Potters Bar coming to a close. Only temporarily though, in that a group of elderly former members resurrected Potters Bar Hockey Club in time for the 2001-2002 season, when seven matches were played, followed by a further fourteen in the 2002-2003 season. By that time, a group of younger and rather fitter club members had arrived, so the club joined the East Leagues for the 2003-2004 season.
Since the Men’s section’s return to League Hockey, Potters Bar Hockey Club have experienced a remarkable renaissance, with the 1st XI being followed into the League by the PHBC 2nd XI in season 2007-2008, and by PBHC 3rd XI in season 2008-2009. In eight seasons, the 1st XI has moved from Division 8 to Division 3 in the league for season 2010-2011, in three seasons the 2nd XI have climbed from Division 9 to Division 7.
The Ladies section, which reverted from the name of South Herts Hockey Club to Potters Bar Hockey Club prior to the start of the 2009-2010 season has also enjoyed considerable success.
The Ladies 1st XI were promoted from the Premier Division of the 5 Counties Hockey League during the 2007-2008 season and are now playing in Division 2SW of the East League at a high standard.
The Ladies 2nd XI were promoted into Division 3 of the 5 Counties Hockey League at the end of the 2009-2010 season and due to the influx of new members are introducing a 3rd team into Division 7 for this coming season.