Havant Hockey Club is the only National League Club  near Portsmouth, Chichester and Fareham with a long and successful history.

The beginning

The actual date that Havant Hockey Club came into existence, isn’t known for certain, but we were certainly up and running in 1907. Our research suggests that Havant Hockey Club took to the field at least two seasons earlier, and therefore 2004/5 was our centenary year. Our home ground, Havant Park, was originally named The Recreation Ground, and in 1905, we were the proud tenants of an almost new pavilion, which we shared with Havant Cricket Club, Havant Rovers F.C, The Lawn Tennis Club, Athletics, and even Bowls.

In the early twenties transport was difficult, but gradually away fixtures grew to an ever widening number of opponents.

Our first overseas excursion was to an Easter tournament in Paris, just prior to the outbreak of World War II in 1939 but we don’t believe there is a connection!

The match programme to the right shows Havant as one of five English visiting teams and the team returned home with two wins, a draw and no doubt, a hangover or two.

Note the equipment of the era in this team photo from the Paris tournament – long-curve sticks, GK leg guards like cricket pads, and shin pads were either optional or well hidden.

During the war years with petrol rationing, travel was not encouraged. However Douglas Dowsing and Roy Clarke made an amalgamation with Chichester Hockey Club and fixtures were arranged with many military establishments in the war ravaged Solent area. Just like the famous Windmill Theatre in London, Havant Hockey Club never closed during the war.

After the Wars

As the club approached the fifties the club went from strength to strength fielding five sides and other grounds had to be found. Our ladies section was formed in the early fifties and a mixed hockey team in the mid sixties. In the late fifties, Peter Pugsley who died in April 2016, introduced a Sunday social side, “The Scavengers” who played hockey at quite a high level, including games against some of the aforementioned London League clubs. They played in a combination of black and orange, and selected players from across the Club, only to falter when league hockey also found Sunday a convenient day to arrange fixtures.

Success at home and abroad

The 1960s & 70s saw a large expansion of the club which culminated with Havant winning their first National League title in 1974. In the 1990s Havant became one of the best known clubs in the country, when they were National League Champions again, three times in four years, hosting the B Division of the European Cup, and representing England in the European Cup A Division twice in Spain, and once in Holland.

Team at the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup, Egara, Spain

Back row – John Wright (coach), John Gwynn (trainer), Stuart Avery, David Roberts, Rob Hill, Dave Evans-Turner (trainer), Marcus Coleman, David Faulkner (Captain), Sean Rowlands, Colin Cooper, Don Williams, Alan Walker (Assistant coach), David Whittle  (Manager)

Front row – Alan Cave, Steve Lawson, Derek Cunliffe, Russell Garcia, Gary Roberts, Peter Nail, Jimi Lewis, John Goldring

National League glory

Seoul gold medallist and Havant captain, David Faulkner, with the Poundstretcher Championship trophy 1991.

Present and future

Mini hockey was introduced to Havant, one of the first clubs to do so in England, and to this day we still have a thriving youth section, which can claim over two hundred members and has produced many players for the Club’s 1st XIs. Through the England Hockey Player Pathway we have regularly produced age group internationals, many of whom have gone on to Senior international level.

From 1988 the Club has played on an ATP based at Havant College.  The pitch was last relaid in 2012, post the London Olympics and was opened by GB players Helen & Kate Richardson-Walsh.

In summary, the emphasis at Havant is on maintaining a strong active and friendly club that invests in the future both in terms of facilities as well as young players.  At the same time we look to contribute to the local community through links with local charities and the Community Coaching Programme which takes hockey into state schools within the Borough.

Notable Events

David Faulkner (bottom left) & Russell Garcia (top row, hugging goalkeeper) in the Great Britain team which won the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Havant HC also provided the GB Team Managers for both the Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Pictured below – Chris Pickett, GB Men’s Team Manager (left) and David Whittle, GB Women’s Team Manager.