Swansea University Mens Hockey Club
About Us
Swansea University Men's Hockey Club is an all inclusive club, whether you're an international or if you've never played before and would like to just give it a go there is a team for you! Swansea University Men's Hockey Club was established in 1920 as one of the founding sports at Swansea University. Starting with only one side, the club has grown significantly, now boasting four teams and a large social community.
In 2018, a merger between Swansea University Men's Hockey Club, Swansea University Ladies Hockey Club, Swansea City and Spartans, created Swansea Hockey Club. In which, we now have 7 men's teams that play on the weekend.
Training times are dependent on team and training is held at the international sports village on Sketty Lane. These sessions are supplemented with additional elite performance sessions and club beach fitness training throughout the year. If you would like to join the club and have not yet been given a team please email hockeymens@swanseasports.co.uk or find the 'Contact Us' section on our website.
The club has a thriving social life, having weekly Wednesday socials and monthly Saturday socials . There are a variey of club events over the year including our welcoming event 'Freshers' Families', an Easter 'Tour' where we've visted Croatia and Catalonia in the past. One of the largest and most memorable events of our calendar is 'Old Boy's Weekend', where 100+ Old Boys come back for 2 days and compete in Sport Swansea's largest Old Boys event.
Important Dates 2020/21
1st XI Pre season - 09/09/2020 Trials/Free Taster Session - 25/09/2020 Singleton Campus - King George V Pitches
2nd XI Pre season - 16/09/2020 Fresher Families - n/a
First League Games - Postponed Until January (potenial for some friendlies and mixed league games in October)
Covid-19
At present we are only allowed a limited number of players on the pitch at any given time. These numbers must be strictly controlled. In order to do this, you will need to book your space at training ahead of time. This will be done via Pitchero. All you need to do at the moment is make sure that you are signed up. At the moment, senior teams will be broadly split into 'training groups'. Paying your Covid membership is important for this process as it will enable us to have an idea of which sessions are at risk of being over subscribed and plan accordingly. You will not be permitted to train without following the above process as we are required to strictly control attendance. Further details will follow in relation to the booking system which has been trialed on a small scale with the Ladies 1s and soon the Men's 1s.
We are required to track & trace each player at each match and training session and report any known cases of Covid 19 to clubs that we come into contact with and to Hockey Wales and the Sports Village, so please take this seriously – one case could potentially put an entire season in peril for the teams in your league.
The Welsh Varsity
The Welsh Varsity takes place every year between Swansea University and Cardiff University. It is the second largest of the British varsity games, behind Oxford v Cambridge. The hockey match is watched by hundreds of students and has featured many past and present international players. In 2014, Swansea won for the first time in the clubs history. Two historic goals by Tom Newman sealed the emphatic victory on Cardiff soil. Swansea won again in 2015 under the leadership of James Nicandrou. James Rogers scored the only goal of the game with a dragflick. In 2016, The match ended 2-2 after a tight contest with Cardiff winning the match 8-7 on penalty flicks.
It was in 2019 that Swansea went to Cardiff and got their best result ever in Varsity. After an extremely tight first half which resulted in Swansea ahead 2-1 at half time, with a number of superb opportunities to speak of and an incredible goaline save by goalkeeper and captain Conor Baverstock. Cardiff drew level early on in the second half through a penalty flick however Swansea took control of the second half with Welsh internationals Jacob Draper and Ioan Wall leading the way, three short corners, three drag flicks and two goals from Ioan meant Swansea were dominant throughout and to finish it all off, a poachers goal from "Yorkie" sealed the game and ended Cardiff's humiliation with Swansea running out as winners. Swansea 6-2 Cardiff.
Elite Performance
If you require any information regarding hockey scholarships please contact
hockeymens@swanseasports.co.uk and we can point you in the right direction.
Contacts
President: Harry York
Vice President: Elliot Tucker
Club Captain: Henry Burton (hockeymens@swansea-sports.co.uk)
1st XI Captain: Ollie Edwards
2nd XI Captain: Tom McCormack
3rd XI Captain: Keiran Mcadam
4th XI Captain: Jacob Blackshaw
Publicity & Marketing Secretary: Tom Pearce
Social Secretaries: Paddy Davern & Sam Salisbury
Umpire Secretary: George Marshall
Fixture Secretary: Matt Cocks
We are truly welcoming of any prospective players and urge you to come along to a training session or to get in contact with us!