A Brief History of Hockey in Pembrokeshire
Hockey has been played in Pembrokeshire for over 100 years.
The first form of Hockey played in the county could have been Knappan, a traditional Pembrokeshire sport, which was played in early Pembroke Dock as "street hockey". Things have moved on since then!
The presence of the Armed forces in the area ensured a competitive league was played for many years with local teams in Saundersfoot, Manorbier and Lamphey.
When the Armed Forces moved out the local players played under the ‘banner’ of Saundersfoot Hockey Club (current Club Members Bernie Wheeler,Kieth Edwards, Michael Colley, and Malcolm Lowless). Games were played during the late 60’s and early 70’s on the ‘Red Gra’ pitch at Llanion, which is now the industrial units.
This pitch was one of the best pitches in Wales at the time. However one Sunday when the club turned up to play they found that the pitch was being dug up by industrial machinery, which meant a new venue, had to be found.
With Esso refinery in Milford Haven offering facilities the Club moved there and was renamed. This move meant travelling to home games was a matter of catching the Ferry from Hobbs Point, Pembroke Dock, to Neyland as the bridge had not been built. The pitch was an excellent grass pitch and whilst the markings were painted each week by the grounds man the posts had to be erected/dismantled and moved some 400yds for each game.
This move also saw the start of the Milford 6’s, which later became the St Ishmael’s 7’s.
In 1974 Pembroke Sports Centre opened and the Pembroke Indoor Hockey Association was started. This Club was a stand-alone club holding indoor tournaments on an annual basis.
In 1980 with the Esso Petroleum Co moving out of the area the club was again without routes. Steve Price was a member of the Haverfordwest Cricket Club and managed to get a deal with us using their facilities and the use of the Tasker Milward school pitch. The pitch was often not marked and often John Davies, Club Umpire and stand in player, was seen marking the pitch before, and sometime during, the game with flour bought from the local supermarket! Again posts had to be erected/dismantled for each game.
The Club flourished and moved up the now established South Wales League of some 8 divisions to Division 2. With so many players available each week and the rolling subs rule not being in place at the time it was hard to give everyone a game. It was decided to split the club so that the players from the North played as Haverfordwest HC and the players from the South played as the newly formed Lamphey HC. Haverfordwest also at this time formed a 2nd XI.
Lamphey HC was formed with ex Haverfordwest players of Keith Edwards, Mike Colley, Bernie Wheeler, Dave Miller, Malcolm Lowless, Brian Lavender, Bob Hannaford, and new members Dave Ferguson, John Parsons, Phillip Morris, Pete Browning, Alistair Dyer, Andrew, Skeels, Eric Oarsman with Jane Hall becoming our Umpire. The Club initially used the Dial Inn in Lamphey for after match facilities but later moved to the Port Hotel in the Dockyard Pembroke Dock. Former International player Ian Ireland who had previously coached the Olympic Gold Medal winners when they were the GB under 21's joined the club and brought his experience to the club.
Lamphey HC, playing on the grass at Lamphey Playing Fields, was successful from the start with instant promotion in the first season and further success for the next 5 seasons. In Lamphey’s 2nd season many of our old friends from Haverfordwest HC came over to play and Lamphey formed a 2nd XI. The Lamphey Easter Hockey Tournament was started and run out of the Pembroke Cricket Club, which was adopted as the Clubhouse. Milford Haven Astro turf pitch was laid and the club played it’s first hockey on astro turf in 1990
In 1991 Veterans Hockey in Wales was started and to date we have several Club members who have represented Wales at over 40’s and Over 50’s International level as well as playing for the Welsh Veterans Social sides. The combined team of South Pembs and Neath, the Rusties, have won the Welsh Veterans Cup on 3 occasions.
Unfortunately the Haverfordwest Club started to struggle with numbers and in 1992 the two clubs merged to become Pembroke County. The newly formed Pembroke County HC was now fielding 3 teams. The Windsor Hotel in Johnston was now used as our Clubhouse.
Unfortunately in 1995 the 3rd XI struggled for numbers and in 1996 the club had to drop a side, as the number of players available were not sufficient to put out 3 teams on a weekly basis.
In 1996/7 a disagreement within the club on how the club should be run and how the club should adopt a different playing strategy from that which had kept it successful for many years led to a Extraordinary General Meeting where the majority Voted to continue with the Committee and Club’s view.
In 1997/8 season the club was left with only one side as those who did not agree with the clubs views left. Those players that kept hockey going in Pembrokeshire in this very difficult time were – Keith Edwards, Nigel Thomas, Dave Miller, Bernie Wheeler, Dave Ferguson, Johnny Harries, Rhoitt Swaroop, Jamie Smith, Richie Belson, Rees Lewis, Paul Jewell, Simon Moseley, with Mike Colley and Mike May. We had a bare XI on most weeks however managed to secure 5th position in Division 1 which under the circumstances was a great achievement.
In 1998/9 season those who had left the club came back and the season was one of total discontent ending with an extremely unsavoury incident in the last league game of the season. It was decided by ‘the old firm’ to withdraw and start a new club.
South Pembrokeshire HC was formed in 1999/2000 season and progressed through the Divisions as Champions for the next 4 seasons achieving Division 1 status during 2001/2002 season and winning the 1st Division Championship in the next season of 2002/2003.
2002 saw the start of the 2nd XI who finished a commendable mid table.
As the Club has became successful in drawing players from all over Pembrokeshire on January 1st 2003 the Club dropped the word South from it's name to become Pembrokeshire Hockey Club.
Following the Club base being established in Carew Sports Club it was agreed with Carew Sports Club that the Hockey Club could become part of the Carew Sports Club and in so doing the Club changed it's name to Carew Hockey Club for the start of the 2008 season.
