About Us

During the pandemic, the Club started efforts to collate our dynamic history in to one place. The history presented here is collated from memories from our members past and present. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge but there are still plenty of gaps. If you wish to make a contribution to this growing history, then please get in touch!

The Abingdon Hockey Club male and female mixed team photo (1900s)

Photo Source: Abingdon Museum Pinterest

With the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) Harwell established in 1946 it was only a matter of time before the 100s of staff needed something to distract them from their work! How long before the Hockey club was established is a question for someone older than me but fast forward to the Inaugural season of the South Hockey League (Sponsored by Truman) in 1972/3 and AERE Harwell was rolling out against the likes of AWRE Aldermaston, Chalfont St Peter, Bicester, Morris Motors, Aylesbury, Travaux, Courage, Pressed Steel and the Quidditch team Woodley Hornets! A second team joined the league in 1990. At this time a Ladies section was part of the club which ran until the 1997/8 season.

Fast Forward again to 1995 and after an import of a significant amount of sand from the Sahara, Tilsley Park was built and opened. This gave the Men’s 1's a home location closer than Bracknell leisure centre and the club moved to base itself at Tilsley Park. At this point the club decided to make a change of name to reflect the new location but wanted to keep an association with the world of quantum physics so for a while at least the club was known as Abingdon Atomix and had a atom as part of the club logo. The Atomix moniker never made it to the South League website.

At the start of the new millennium there were 4 hockey clubs plying their trade at TP with Morris Motors, Abingdon Ladies (linked to Dalton Barracks) and Abingdon Pilgrims and over the last 20 years these 4 clubs have merged to become the Abingdon HC of today. Firstly ahead of the 2002/3 Season Morris Motors joined the Abingdon HC family bringing 2 Men’s teams and the “Old Combustibles” veterans team. Then in ~2006 the Abingdon Ladies and Men’s clubs joined together bringing back several of the previous AERE Harwell ladies back to the club. In around 2018 the long discussed merger of Abingdon Pilgrims and Abingdon Hockey happened to bring the club where we are today.

The loosely associated junior team of Tilsley Tigers ran at TP for many years with quite a few players moving over to join AHC. Since 2017 The Abingdon Avengers have been running and growing with a long term view to provide the players of the future.

From John Barron

How many faces from past teams can you still recognise playing today?

Probably 1946 until 2000 Touring under the name of the FAEREs, the club sent a team to the Torbay Hockey Festival and stayed at the same dubious guest house (Priory Towers). The Glass blowers at Harwell created a bespoke glass hockey-stick shape yard of ale which was kept in the bar at the Priory Towers (and maybe still there). Tour “virgins” had to down a yard of their choice to be inducted to the FAEREs.

2001 The newly named “Rusty Sherriff’s” travelled to Canterbury instead of the English Riviera. Served beer and umpired by Olympic legends like Sean Kerly, it was tour of higher quality hockey and youngsters!

2002-3 Corinthians Dublin – Perhaps the best tour many of us will have attended. Amazingly well organised against great touring teams and with stunning Guinness all weekend.

Thanks to all those who have been involved in the successful running of our club. Whilst only the Club Chair and Club Captains are listed below, there is a committed committee of members working to ensure the club provides the best opportunities for its members.