GENERAL HISTORY
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History
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History
The roots of the City of Portsmouth Hockey Club go back to 1973 when what is still the nucleus of the present club got together as the Old Purbrookians - pupils and ex-pupils of Purbrook Grammar School who initially formed their own club to play friendly men's and mixed hockey on a Sunday outside their existing clubs Saturday commitments.
Within a couple of seasons the club members decided to enter the Hampshire League in their own right and this was coupled with a move away from the school's pitches at Purbrook into the Civil Service Club in Portsmouth. The club was renamed Old Purbrookians Civil Service - OPCS - and this was as it stayed until1989. During that time the club expanded to run three men's teams and loosely associated itself with Portsmouth Civil Service Ladies for mixed fixtures and social functions. The 1st XI were promoted and maintained a position in Hampshire League Division 1.
As things stood the club were unlikely ever to set the hockey world alight. Disillusioned with the steady decline of facilities at the Civil Service Club and with the need to play their fixtures on a synthetic surface the club opened negotiations with Southsea Hockey Club with a view to a merger in the spring of 1989. These discussions broke down at the season end and the OPCS committee decided to 'go it alone'.
During the summer closed season a new 'home' was identified in the grounds of Alexandra Park, close to the Mountbatten Centre. With support from the City Council and Bass Breweries the clubhouse was converted from a little used bowls pavilion into the club's new home with its own bar and kitchen facilities. With acknowledgement to the City Council's support the club was rebranded as the City of Portsmouth Hockey Club and within twelve months the ladies of Portsmouth Civil Service and Cosham and Southsea joined us to form the present club.
From this moment we have not looked back. The club were Hampshire League champions without dropping a point in season 1990/91. As runners-up they were then promoted from the Hampshire/Surrey Regional League the next season. The club's arrival in the South Premier League coincided with that leagues decision to amalgamate with the London League and in its first season City had to finish in the top half of the 'B' league to play Premier League hockey the next season. As it was we finished runners-up to Oxford University who then went on into the National League.
In the following year we finished third in the South Premier League, just missing out on a place in the National League Play-offs but in 1994/95 we made it by finishing runners-up to High Wycombe. In the then convoluted system of qualification we managed to fight our way through to a final play-off match away to Whitchuch in South Wales which we won 3 - 0. Celebrations went on late into the night and we made our debut in the National League away to Edgebaston in October 1995.
Our first season in the National League was a success - finishing 5th. This was swiftly followed by the ignominy of relegation back to the South League via the play-offs the next year. Many reasons were given for the return to Regional League status but, in truth, the club's meteoric rise on the field had left behind its off-field infrastructure. In the two succeeding seasons the club has maintained it's position close to the top of the South Premier League while rebuilding from the bottom. The present state of the junior section is extremely healthy and will hopefully provide a springboard for a return to the top flight - this time with more sustainable resources to back up the 1st XI's progress.
The latest development come off the field with the club outgrowing the clubhouse at Alexandra Park. The start of the 1999/2000 season saw the club up studs (literally!) and move down the road to HMS Temeraire where facilities include an onsite Clubhouse, 2 pitches (one water based) and a 400 seater stand.
Although a club's standing is usually measured by it's 1st XI, City of Portsmouth have managed to sustain an enviable improvement in the standards of it's lower XIs such that in terms of league success it is the most successful club in the South outside the National League and it is clearly well ahead of many of it's National League competitors.
City of Portsmouth 2nd XI compete in the South Premier 2nd XI League against the 2nd teams of many National League sides including Havant, East Grinstead and Lewes.
The 3rd XI are in Division 1 of the South Premier 3rd XI League and the 4th team are one of only two teams (again the other is Canterbury) who have managed to break into the 3rd XI League - they are in Division 2 but after a brief excursion last season into the top flight.
The 5th XI are our developmental side and, regularly fielding a team packed with teenagers - often as young as 12 or 13, they have maintained a place in the Hampshire Open League Division 1.
Now in it's third season, and it's first in League hockey, the Veterans complete the picture of the men's senior sides. They have gained promotion this season into Division 2 of the Wessex Masters League.
There can be no doubt that the progress of the club's senior sides is largely due to the efforts made to develop our own youngsters. The club has a proud record of achievement in the Hampshire junior league and cup competitions but above all else it has provided the groundwork for several players to go on to junior, and ultimately senior, international status.
Unfortunately, as is the way of the hockey world these days, many of these players have gone on to pastures new in order to fulfil their ambitions but our role of honour is still impressive - starting at the very top!
Russell Garcia - England/ Great Britain international and having captained his country and achieved the highest prize of all - an Olympic gold medal.
Calum Giles - England/Great Britain squad. Representing our country at the last Olympics.
Jimmy Lewis - England/Great Britain international and presently playing for Cannock in the National Premier League.
There are several others who have gone on to represent England at junior international level.
Stuart Avery - England U21
Marcus Coleman - England U21
Michael Wright - Wales U21
Jimmy Fox - England U18
Paul Hilton - England U18
Chris Ball - England U18
Lee Chapman - England U16
Steve Turnbull - England U15
Jamie Horne - England U15
The COP Womens Section was formed in 1991 by the amalgamation of Portsmouth Civil Service and Cosham & southsea Women's Hockey Clubs. At that time, the 1st XI played in the newly formed National League Division 2, whilst the 2nd and 3rd XI's played in the Hampshire League. The ladies section were also representeed by one non-league and one U18 team.
Since then, fortunes have changed for the various teams but the club is proud to boast that The Womens Section were the first in Hampshire to have:-
Previous Club Members include:-
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