Results of SWOT analysis

Spencer Hockey Club Development Strategy

Spencer Hockey Club Development Strategy

Appendix E: A Complete SHC History

A Complete History of Spencer was compiled by Dan Radley, a member of SHC, for the SHC Centenary year ending in 2005.

PLAYING THE GAME - 1905-2005

What a year 1905 was!

This was the year that saw the birth of Great Garbo, Howard Hughes and Jean-Paul Satre; the publication of Albert Einsteins Special Theory of Relativity; the invention of Cadburys Dairy Milk; and a massacre at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg that triggered the Russian Revolution.

Meanwhile, over in South London this was also a landmark year for sport, with the formation of Crystal Palace FC, Charlton Athletic FC and Chelsea FC, led by William Fatty Foulkes.

Yet, all of this pales in comparison with events in Herondale Avenue, Wandsworth Common. One balmy evening in September 1905, presumably over a jug of shandy, J.E.Wood, H.W.Wheeler, S.R.Lewis and J.S.Pike decided to create their own hockey club. Within a fortnight, they had the whole thing up and running.

In the words of W.B. Mager: The history of the Spencer Hockey Club should stand for all time as a monument to what can be accomplished by one or two enthusiasts, who, having made up their minds to start a club, henceforth do not rest until they have achieved success. The Club did not come into existence until October 1, and yet was able regularly to run five teams, and included among its fixtures for the season the first elevens of such strong organisations as Croydon, Brondesbury, Polytechnic, Kingston Hill, Norwood and Brockley.

To put the achievement into context, they had created an institution which would survive two world wars, two Clubhouse fires, the Summer Of Love, the Winter Of Discontent, the birth of jazz, rocknroll, punk, hip hop, Britpop, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Club was officially an offshoot of the Spencer Cricket Club, although many of the players came from the Clapham Hockey Club which had just disbanded. The name Spencer refers to Earl Spencer, the lord of the manor, who permitted the founders of the cricket club to drain and enclose a portion of Wandsworth Common.

As W.B. Mager explains: The hockey section had an excellent start, owing to the hearty way in which the Cricket Committee backed up the efforts of the promoters, members having the great pleasure and satisfaction of at once possessing a perfectly level ground and a splendid pavilion.

The first known match match report, between Spencer and Kew Green, appeared in the Friday October 27th 1905 edition of the Wandsworth Borough News:

"Spencer versus Kew Green, played on the former's ground at Herondale Avenue, Wandsworth Common on Saturday. The game started at a very hot pace, but the Spencer forwards, working well together, were soon pressing, and Hallet scored three goals in rapid succession. Shortly afterwards Harwood scored again for the home side. The visitors now made some good combined efforts enabling Clayton to score. Just before half-time, as the result of a fine individual effort, Washbourne added another point for Spencer. At the commencement of the second half the Kew men went off at high pressure and Coke obtained a goal. As a reply to this Parker, who had being playing a good game throughout, succeeded in placing the sixth goal to the credit of the home team, who won by six to two. Wheeler played a very sound game at the back for the Spencer, while Cox at centre-half worked hard for the visitors.

Spencer: SR Lewis and HW Wheeler (backs), CJ Browne, JE Wood, W Hutchinson and AJ Washbourne (half-backs), W Washbourne, GF Harwood, CA Hallett, HW Parker and O Cattlin (forwards). Kew Green: A Pring, F Norris and SA Rogers (backs), H Hawke, H Cox, and A Ladbrook (half backs), H Norris, R Hayes, A Clayton, S Cox, and C Coke (forwards)

The Club went on to have a remarkable first season under the leadership of J.E.Wood, a prince among skippers:

1st Played 23 Won 18, Lost 2, Drew 3

2nd Played 24, Won 13, Lost 2, Drew 9

3rd Played 13, Won 6, Lost 2, Drew 5

In 1907 the captaincy was taken up by the energetic S.R. (Sammy) Lewis who held the dual positions of secretary and skipper. The membership stood at nearly 100, enabling Spencer Hockey Club to field five sides regularly.

W.B. Mager takes up the story again: We note the interesting fact that the hockey club was practically part of the cricket club, the cricket and tennis committee allowing the hockey club a free hand as regards the management of their section, while at the same time retaining a controlling influence on matters of finance and ground work. This seems to be a most sensible arrangement, and we have in our mind several cricket clubs in the metropolitan area who might with advantage start a hockey section and adopt the plan which was so succeessful with, to give its then full title, the Spencer Cricket, Lawn Tennis, Bowls and Hockey Club.

The Club was successful right up to the outbreak of war, when almost the whole of its membership volunteered for active service. For a short period during wartime, women were permitted to represent Spencer. There were moves immediately after the war to make this permanent. The President at the time wrote: Many ladies have requested the formation of a Ladies Hockey Club, and this is receiving the earnest consideration of the Committee.

However, the Club was to remain an all-male preserve for another 75 years before common sense eventually prevailed.

Losing cheerfully, 1919

In August 1919, the original members, so far as they could be traced, were called together, and after long debate it was decided to restart the Club immediately. The former secretary, S.R. Lewis had secured an option on two pitches at Merton Park, but the shortage of members had made the financial position of the Club precarious. Only a small number of playing members were available.

The minute book notes that, The Committee desires on behalf of the club first to place on record their appreciation of the services rendered by the members to the country during the late war. They also wish to take this opportunity of expressing their sorrow and tendering heartfelt sympathy to the relatives and friends in the sad loss sustained by them, and also the Club in respect of the following members killed in action:

Dawn, H.G.Gooch, F.H.

Hathatt, E.Henley, A.W.

Henderson, A.R.Prosser, A.E.

Spencer, W.G.South, G.R.S.

Vinnicombe, L.F.

The Club has maintained its old standard of Playing the game irrespective of results. The 2nd XI have lost as cheerfully as they have won. It has been an honour to be their Captain, and I am proud of every one of them.

A Post-War Reunion Supper was held at the Don Restaurant, 29, Basinghall Street. Steak, kidney and mushroom pudding was followed by Manchester Tart. At the bottom of the menu card it said, Get your pals signatures on this, and keep it!

The following letter was sent on March 4th 1920 from G.E.O. Andrews to E.E..Elkington of the Spencer Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club:

It is submitted that it would be mutually advantageous to both Clubs if the Hockey Club were once more to return to the Spencer ground The advent of the Hockey Club would also furnish a nucleus of young players from local neighbourhoods for the cricket and lawn tennis sides and vice versa if the decision is favourable it is suggested to hold monthly socials and suppers after the match and entertain the visitors of the day at concerts afterwards. This will improve the bar takings and the Hockey Ladies Committee have promised to manage this part of the programme.

Cricket agreed, and responded by offering their groundsman to paint the hockey balls for use every Saturday. They also let us buy a piano for the Clubhouse.

Eating for England, 1920s

The Spencer army has always marched on its stomach, and Club dinners and suppers during this period were often spectacular. Spencers 18th Annual Supper & Concert at the Rubens Hotel boasted Crme dAsperges, Turbot Grille Maitre dHotel, Poulet Poche Stanley and Pommes Chateau. Entertainment was provided by Mrs. Percival Snow, Mrs Roy Pike, Madame Kate Flinn, Miss Patsy Freeman and Miss Olive Richardsons pupils.

However, this was eclipsed by the 1926 dinner at The Engineers Club, Coventry Street.

Native oysters were followed by Consomme Croute au Pot, Filet de Sole, Marguery, Mignons de Boeuf, Richelieu, Capon Roti and Bombe Glace Aida.

The gourmet tradition continues today. The Grover Lunch, initiated by Tom Taylor in honour of Frank Grover, celebrates the Clubman of the Year. Traditionally, all the former winners gather to treat the new winner to lunch at a wine bar in the City.

Who can forget the magnificent Marks & Spencer feast devoured by John Davis on the coach trip to Bridgnorth for a victorious Cup game in 1994? Or Amrish Patels amazing curries for 150 members on Club Day? Or the impromptu wine tastings held on most Saturdays by the current Veterans?

Kit and caboodle, 1930s

Kit has always been a prickly subject at Spencer. The original Spencer Hockey Club Rules state: 1. That the Club be called the Spencer Hockey Club and the colours shall be Red, Blue and Dark Brown Shirts, Blue Knickers, White Stockings with Club Colours in turn over.

Simple enough. But by 1922, Sammy Lewis proposed that White knickers be added. Another member, Mosely suggested that Blue knickers be added. On a show hands White knickers won by 15 votes to 12. Powell then proposed that Light blue stockings be added. Mager responded by proposing that Navy blue stockings with white tops be added. On a show of hands, Navy Blue won by 13 votes to 8.

The Club outfitter at the time was Stokes & Co. Ltd., 24 Queen Victoria St, EC4, whose slogan was: Stokes Hockey Sticks - noted throughout the Hockey World!

By 1934 the Club was mainly playing in white shirts and nobody seemed very sure about what the official Club kit was. (Well return to this issue after the Second World War.)

This was an exciting period for Spencer. In 1926, Sammy Lewis proposed that Mr.A.D.Ogilvy be elected as Captain of the First Eleven. Mr Lewis took this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Ogilvy on his first England Cap and the members present rose and drank his health.

A year later, one of the very first committee members, Major G. O. Andrews retired as Honorary Fixture Secretary to this accolade: The valuable and whole hearted service which he has rendered to the Club is well in the minds of all members Last season for the first time in the history of the Club he secured a fixture with Oxford University and for next season he has secured fixtures with both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. This undoubtedly sets the seal upon his very fine record as an officer of the Club.

Results were improving and the minutes recall that, The season 1931/32 must be considered one of the most successful in the history of the Club, bearing in mind the much strengthened fixture list as compared with three or four seasons ago. The record of the first eleven was an extraordinarily fine one and the results of the other elevens have also been good. These results must be partly attributed to strong club and team spirit First XI: Played 26, Won 22, Drawn 2, Lost 2, Goals for 119, Goals against 48.

Results included an 11-1 win against Blackheath and a 9-2 victory over Civil Service. At the other end of the Club, the 5th XI lost 15-0 to Purley. S.R. Lewis was still playing for the 4th XI and scoring lots of goals.

A bar was installed by W.B.Mager and G.W.Ware - the Hugh Dorrells of their day and teams began to return to the Club after away matches. A wine committee was formed. The supply of intoxicating liquor shall be under the sole control of the wine committee who shall arrange for the purchase therof on behalf of the Club and of the supply thereto members at such prices as they shall determine.

Og! 1936

Before the start of season 1933-34, as a pre-season fitness experiment, A.D. Ogilvy proposed that arrangements be made for a Club Hike during the Summer on a Sunday.

Spencer also started up a sixth eleven. It was not terribly successful, losing 11-0 to Erith Technical College and only scraping a 3-3 draw against the Ewell Mental Asylum.

A dinner was held on March 25th 1936 at the Waldorf Hotel. This function was arranged to celebrate the fact that A.D. Ogilvy had the honour of being appointed Captain of England in the four international matches played during the previous season. The menu consisted of six courses. There were nine speeches and the artistes included an entertainer and two comedians. The principal guest was T.L. Rowan who later became principal private secretary to Winston Chruchill during four years of his wartime premiership.

By playing for England in the four international matches against Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France, A.D. Ogilvy brought the total number of his international caps to 25.

Spencer holds a proud record in having had as playing members the Captains of England (A.D. Ogilvy), Scotland (D. Leyland Naylor) and Ireland (T.W.O. Matheson).

Our record in season 1937-38 was outstanding: First XI - W25 D4 L2 and The Times reported: On their play on Saturday, Spencer can be ranked as the best club side in the South.

In a hurriedly convened meeting in October 1939 at Lakes Restaurant, Great Tower Street, EC., Ogilvy proposed, that, owing to the outbreak of War, the operations of the Club be suspended, seconded by Tibbetts. This motion was unanimously agreed to with great regret. The Honorary Secretary was instructed to communicate this decision to the Spencer Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club.

It was proposed by Appleton that the balance of Club funds should be suitably invested. Edgley proposed that names and addresses of all Club members, together with the Club records, be deposited in the strongroom of a bank. It was decided to meet on the first Thursday in every month throughout the duration of the War, at The Phoenix, Palace Street, SW1.

In closing the meeting, the President W.B. Mager said that he had been present at a similar meeting in 1914, when the Club was suspeded on account of War, and he said that he hoped it would not be long before the activities of the Club could be revived.

When the War engulfed us in 1939 Spencer had reached the zenith of its success and in The Times review of the 1938/9 season was rightly described as the Club of the Year.

Earth, sky, blood, 1945

The next entry in the minute book, 10th November 1945, recalls that the Honorary Secretary was requested to ask the Evening News to mention in their Sports Gossip that we intended to run a 2nd XI immediately and that fixtures would be required. A first match arranged was between Kent Schoolboys and Spencer Schoolboys.

Arguments over kit persisted. A note in the fixture cards said:

Until conditions become more normal WHITE shirts will usually be worn, but it is essential that members also carry a coloured shirt of some description. Stokes& Co carry a limited number of Club coloured shirts at 25 shillings each, although coupons are required. Shorts are blue serge. There are no Club stockings available, so plain white are suggested as the nearest alternative.

Ralph Bob Skinner, one of our longest serving members, says Spencer colours symbolise the raw elements of playing the game earth, sky and blood. But there were mixed messages in the fixture card: The Club colours shall be red, blue and dark brown. White cricket shirts with the Club badge on the breast pocket must be worn by all members playing in Club matches.

A sub-committee was formed in the1950s to consider proposals. First, that white shirts with the Club badge be officially recognised as the Club colours and necessary amendments be made to the rules. Second, that the old Club shirt be re-introduced.

Or third, a complete change of colour. The committee of Davis, Holloway and Priestly favoured this third option, despite some resistance from older members. They hoped for a general smartening up of the Club. The suggestions included Wolves or Arsenal style shirts.

Cricket versus Hockey, 1940s

The minute books reveal a certain amount of tension between Spencer Hockey Club and Spencer Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club over financial arrangements. Polite, but rather tight-lipped letters were exchanged.

Cricketers became increasingly dogmatic about the conditions under which the ground was rented to the hockey players in Winter. The Spencer Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club agrees to allow the Spencer Hockey Club the use of two hockey pitches on Saturdays, public holidays and three mid-week dates during the hockey season, which shall run from the first Saturday in October to the Saturday immediately preceding the eighteenth day of march in the following year. The normal use of a pitch shall be one game on any one day but, if necessary, two games may be played on a pitch on the same day, provided that the number of additional games so played does not exceed five per season per pitch and that no such additional game takes place after 1st January in any season. Well, thats cleared that up.

Financially, the effects of war were still pinching. The treasurer noted that the Club was appreciably worse off the year than at a similar time the previous year. Active member numbers were rising but there were fewer honorary members. Costs of everything were going up. Stationery 8, umpiring 2, electricity 41, officials expenses 2, hire of Raynes Park ground 15. Yet bar profits had fallen 7 and tea profits 3. Expenditure on fixture cards represented 15% of the Clubs total income. (Such is the effect of inflation that the entire accounts for 1951 could be covered by payment of a single members subscription in 2005.)

May 1950 saw the retirement of W.B. Mager, President of the Club. Bill joined the Club in 1907 and for several years played at full back in the 1st XI. He was President for 25 years and an incredibly active one. S.R.Lewis, MBE, described his leadership as Magnificent and inspiring.

Jubilee lines, 1955

A cocktail party was arranged to celebrate the Clubs 50th anniversary. Three venues were considered:

1. Challiner Club, Pont Street. 15 shillings per head for buffet and drinks.

2. Gunter & Co., Curzon Street. 7/6 per head for buffet, drinks charged as consumed

3. St Botolphs Hall, Bishopsgate. 15 shillings per head for buffet and drinks by an outside caterrer. Hire of hall 5 guineas plus 1 for the caretaker.

The last of these options proved the most desirable and the event was arranged for 27th October 1955.

The Founder of the Club, Mr S.R.Lewis, MBE received the guests who included:The President, Vice President, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer and Hon match Secretary of the Hockey Association; The President of the Southern Counties Hockey Assocation; The President of the Surrey County Hockey Asssociation; The Hon Secreary of the Souther Counties Umpires Assocation; The Chairman of the Spencer Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club; and The Captain of the Spencer Cricket Club.

Also present were representatives of the major London Hockey Clubs, the universities, Bowden Hockey Club and members of the press. The major toast, proposed by the Captain of the Club, A.D.Ogilvy, was The health of Club and its Founder.

New blood, 1957

A great intake of new members in 1957/8 included Ainsley Adams and Tony Anderson.

The Club was able to be choosy about its fixtures, dropping St Albans in favour of Hampstead and replacing the Central YMCA fixture with Royal Academy Woolwich.

Worms were ruining the pitches and Frank Grover was keen that the Club mobilised the troops to buy worm killer and carried out the worming ourselves. It was reluctantly concluded that this would have to be done through the Cricket Club, and the new groundsman, Mr Sentinella.

Major improvements were carried out at the start of the season, including the installation of hot showers funded by Jubilee year appeal.

In a poor year for the 1st XI, the minutes said, It is very difficult to single out any individual player in the side for special mention with the exception perhaps of Ainsley Adams who started off so well at outside left and ended up playing even better at centre forward he is without doubt the teams most improved player. (In the 1980s, Ainsleys wife Sylvia Adams was to become the Clubs best umpire. And, in the 1990s, their son Tom, the Clubs best show-boater.)

In 1958, the pavilion was seriously damaged by fire. This was particularly disappointeing for hockey, which had just invested 250 on the installation of showers and contributed several hundred pounds to the repair of the pavilion.

As part of the redevelopment programme, the Jubilee sub-committee of Hawes, Welch, Dallimer, Goddard, Grover, Edwards and Smith proposed that a special levy of one shilling per match should be charged during the Jubilee year.

In the jubilee season, it was decided to expand to a sixth eleven, to raise more subscription income and compete on a par with other London clubs. This was slotted in as an Extra 3rd XI under the captaincy of Gordon Hawes.

By the mid-1960s Spencer had an exceptionally strong side. The 1st XI won the Sunday Telegraph pennant in the 1965/66 season and finished in third place twice more that decade.

Two Faces of a Club by Tom Taylor

On the 4th January 1957, I gladly and with some apprehension accepted an offer of employment with the then, quaintly named, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China. Echoes of a fading empire; so much so that within a year that Victorian intstitution (founded in 1853) had changed its name to, merely, The Chartered Bank, as its geographical representation had long since spread far beyond India, Australia and China. The bank had purchased, in East Molesey, a magnificent country mansion sanding in several acres of woodland and gardens, with the River Mole running through. The woodland had been transformed into cricket, rugby and hockey pitches and it had become the banks sports and social centre as well as a residence for a dozen or so bank trainees.

Being sportingly inclined and at no cost to an impecunious clerk, I took every opportunity to participate. The banks Sunday (rugby was played on Saturdays) hockey fixture list included a game against a club called Spencer. They, invariably, brought down a side who seemed to thoroughly enjoy their hockey, showed us ample skills whilst winning 4-0, but never more than that so as not to discourage us too much, and then refresh themselves copiously in the bar afterwards. Why not? Those were the days before our present drink/drive regime, and bitter was 10 old pence a pint (about 4p today)! Amongst those whom I remember playing against were Sid Dallimer, ted Banfield, Ainslie Adams, Mike Marchant, Mike Foister, Tim de Salis and Basil Edwards.

I confined playing rugby and hockey during the winter season weekends at East Molesey for a couple more years until I was approached by a senior manager at the bank who firmly suggested that I sould seriously think about playing hockey on both days of the weekend. A combination of his authority and the gentler option of hockey over rugby, made me succumb! In those days at Spencer, a prospective member had to have a propser, seconder, be known to at least some of the committee members and present your application with your full seasons subscription attached. My proposer was the afore-mentioned senior manager, a Mr A.D. Ogilvy, known familiarly as Og (but not me!). He said he would arrange a seconder for me that gentleman turned out to be a Mr. Frank Grover. For the benefit of some newer and younger members, A.D. Ogilvy gained 34 caps for England, a record he held for many years. When you consider that, on average, only 3 caps a year were awarded as England only played Scotland, Ireland and Wales in those days, it was a testament to Ogs skill and fitness at the highest level over 12 years, then interrupted by war in 1939. Og passed away about 30 years ago as has, more recently, my seconder, Frank Grover.

Frank was one of lifes gentlemen. I never saw either Og or Frank play hockey but Franks great contribution to Spencer was his commitment, his reliability (as a team captain myself in later years, I could always count on him to umpire in all weathers, home or away, provided there was chocolate cake at teatime!), his selflessness in volunteering for jobs no-one else wanted to do and his delightfully eniial manner which contributed so much to building upon the great reputation Spencer had in English hockey. He also enjoyed a bottle or three of Guinness after the game. Spencer had an enviable reputation and fixture list in the 1950s; we played every top club in the London area, all three universities, the three armed services and Bowdon and Brooklands, who were among the top clubs from Cheshire. We had international players representing the four home countries and several county players. Other clubs regularly approached us to get on their fixture lists. It was good hockey and good hospitality and this brief contribution is to focus on just two former members, who in their different ways themselves contributed so much to and for Spencer Hockey Club.

The Spencer Club, 1970

The grass pitches at Spencer were always one of our major assets, thanks to George Whitick, the Spencer Club groundsman for 34 years. Flat and fast-draining.

But problems arose for the cricket club, who faced a sizeable rent demand. A special committee was formed with representatives from cricket, tennis and hockey. John Davis and Gordon Hawes were our observers.

In 1970, Spencer Hockey Club amalgamated with Spencer Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club to become the hockey section of the Spencer Club. This became necessary to secure the continued use of the ground at Fieldview through the granting of a 99 year lease. A sum of 23,000 was needed to purchase this lease, which was partly raised by donations and partly through grant aid and loans.

Gordon Hawes, Basil Edwards and John Maskell were instrumental in the deal which united us with the Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. The original stated objectives were The provision of the best conditions possible for the playing of cricket, lawn tennis, hockey and such other sports as the Management Committee considers desirable. Each sport shall, if so desired, identify its activity by use of the following titles as appropriate: Spencer Cricket Club, Spencer Lawn Tennis Club, Spencer Hockey Club. Crucially, the management of the hockey Club remained in the hands of the hockey committee.

Memories of a Spencer Amateur by Richard Fowells

I have never been very good at date remembering, however I believe I joined Spencer in 1960, and have been lucky to have played each season. (Now in my 45th year.)

I have enjoyed a number of roles at Spencer: Captain 2nd XI, 4th XI, 6th XI, Veterans and Super Veterans; Sunday Secretary; Press Secretary; Social Secretary; Easter Festival Organiser; Committee Member; Captain of the Club.

I have had the privilege of playing in all elevens in my time. I even managed over 150 games for the 1st XI despite my lack of fitness (booze was essential on a Friday night), though did not always last the season. Consequently, I played in the 1st XI under at least five different captains over a number of seasons.

My one claim to fame as an amateur was I never trained, and eventually I was given the ultimatum train or 2nd eleven. You can probably guess what my decision was!

When I joined Spencer they had been gong through the Doldrums. This is when Tony Anderson took over the 1st XI. He organised, then captained from centre half and this began the road back to success. His achievement cannot be underestimated, and for those who do not know he later became President of Surrey. He put Spencer back on the map. Along with the lated Sid Dallimer, other Spencer characters on th committee at the time were Basil Edwards, Mike Foister, Frank Grover, John Maidlow, Bob Skinner, Ogilvy (plyed for England 34 times), Edgely and John Davis.

In the 60s and 70s the Sunday Telegraph produced an unofficial league table based on percentages as not all teams played each other. We were blessed with a very strong fixture list. Gradually we improved, and the warning point came when we picked up three players from London University Jas Missan, Bal Kakaria and Errol Smalley. Their influence and ability had a dramatic effect on the team and consequently other players cam in and we had a combination of Asian stick players and English type players which became a winning combination. We were probably the first side to have such a sombination in the first and second elevens. The team blended remarkably well and the good years were coming.

If I remember we won the London six-a-side tournament at Chiswick three years running. In the 60s and 70s, 90% of all international players came from the London clubs which ensured every game was competitive with a high standard of play.

One of the main reason I love Spencer is its total lack of snobbishness. It is a priceless asset. Such a joy to play on a Satruday afternoon and go in the bar and not be asked about the job you do or the car you drive. This has always been the case since I joined in 1960 and in my experience is unique.

The Voice of Spencer, 1971-1998

The 1970s represented the pinnacle of Spencers playing success. In 1973/4, the 1st XI under Jas Missan won 17, drew 3 and lost 1 of their games, then went on to defeat Southgate 1-0 in the London League final. For a fleeting moment, Spencer had arguably the finest side in Europe.

But the Club that I joined in the 1980s, while really charming and with a unique style of play, was rather complacent. I think it is fair to say that Spencers failure to adapt to changes in the game during this period eventually took its toll with the decline of the mens first XI a decade later.

The evolution from grass to Astroturf; the booming interest in hockey following Great Britains success at the 1988 Olympics; the creation of National League hockey all of these were opportunities missed by Spencer Hockey Club.

At the height of Thatcherism, however, we were still a Club to be reckoned with under the 1st XI captaincy of Tochi Panesar.

Astroturf pitches had started to become important in the late1970s. The earliest ones in the area were Crystal Palace and Kennington. Initially, these were impossibly slick surfaces which suffered from wear and tear. While the best players adapted quickly, the lower elevens found it almost impossible to weight their passes and goalkeepers wearing little more than a pair of cricket pads and a box were, frankly, terrified. The midweek floodlit league at Crystal Palace attracted many of Londons best sides and this was also a boom period for indoor hockey, popularised by coverage on TV.

The central figure in the Club during this period was John William Edward Davis, born 1930. His first appearance in the Spencer records was Winter 1952, when he was elected a member of the Club, proposed by Birks and seconded by Gregory. In 1956 he became responsible for a news letter, published occasionally through the season giving accounts of the activities of the various XIs.

For an entire generation of players and officials John Davis was the voice of Spencer. Nobody ever worked more effectively to represent our Clubs interests at regional and national level.

John was a committee man and when he died in 1998, tributes poured in from the senior figures in Surrey hockey including Tony Anderson, Ben Rea and John Mills. Tony Anderson said: He has been a wonderful servant of the County, a persistent arguer of our cause at all levels, and will be greatly missedWearing my other hat, a very old Spencer one, I first met the Davis family in the early 60s. As 1st XI captain I attended selection committee meetings every Monday evening in Mrs Daviss pub in St Jamess. He gave great service to the club in a variety of ways player, umpire, secretary and President. Even after he completed his three-year term as President, John still went on being a vocal advocate for the Club as a member of Wandsworth Sports Councils Executive Committee.

Votes for Women, 1989

John Davis was not in favour of the formation of a womens section. He represented a faction within the Club that saw Spencer as an exclusively male preserve. But once the votes were counted and the membership had spoken, John adapted to the change a change that Tom Taylor recently described as the salvation of Spencer.

I first got to know the Spencer women properly when we took two teams, male and female, to the 1991 Chichester Hockey Festival. It seems significant that I can recall the members of their team more clearly than I can remember my own team-mates. There was Tessa, Tiny, Jenny, Hels, Joss, Wendy oh, and they drank us under the table.

Spencer Womens Hockey Bullies off by Helen Williams

The year was the 1989, the phone call was from Dave Hardman and the answer was, NO!

In its shortest version of events, that is how Spencer Womens Hockey was born. At no point can I recall, as Dave suggested in his call, was I interested in starting up a ladies hockey side. How on earth then, did the words, tell me a bit more and Ill see what I can do, emerge from my mouth ?

And so it began

I gathered together a motley crew of potential Spencer wannabes; a mix of old team mates, friends and acquaintances from various parts of my hockey past and, with wise words of advise from Tessa Dash and support from Anna Bomber Pugh, set about getting the Spencer Ladies show on the road.

Of course, our strategic planning took place in various pubs and clubs around South London (where all our best tactical and administrative decisions were made). A few nights and many pints later, Spencer Ladies struck a deal to become part of the Spencer Club. We were given a year to see how it all went and ensure that a new Ladies side could survive the trials and tribulations (and politics) of setting up from scratch.

The First Team

Hels Captain, Tessa Vice Captain, Bomber - Fixtures Secretary

Everybody amazing culinary skills in preparing our own teas for all the games. There was no Florence in those days !!

Team colours navy blue top, skirt and navy blue/sky blue socks. We were not going to wear the mens kit of sky blue, red and mud brown!

Result

Having joined the Surrey League, success seemed to come quite easily, even though we only managed to field 10 players for quite a few matches in the inaugural year.

Within 3 years we had shot straight up to (Premier) Division 1 and, just as importantly, the bars profits also rose significantly with the introduction of women to the clubhouse.

Such was the triumph of the 1st Ladies team, that two years further down the line, our 2nd team was born. The 2nd team mainly consisted of physios a handy lot to have around considering. Possibly the chattiest team of the club so far, they added to the spirit of Spencer and were not bad on the pitch either, entering the Surrey league hot on the heels of the 1s.

As the womens section gathered momentum in the 90s, the 1st and 2nd team grew in strength, leading to the introduction of a 3rd team in 94/95 and a 4th team in 2001. Both teams started out as the social additions to the club, but in subsequent years have both proved they can play some good hockey and are trooping up the Surrey league too!

Today

Over the last 16 years, the womens section has grown in strength with promotions throughout the teams in the last few years. The 1s have just been promoted to the south league the highest position they have attained since the womens section began. The 2s remain steady in Division 2. The 3s have been promoted two years on the trot and are now in Division 3, whilst the 4s have just been promoted to Division 5. All the teams have shown they are leaner, fitter, more skillful and more social than ever before and theyll be celebrating sweet sixteen (years) along with the centenary this season!!Team v Club, 1980s & 90s

Training during this period consisted of 1st XI goalkeeper Ian Insley doing four sessions of army boot camp on the grass at Fieldview in August and that was about it. Ian eventually persuaded Matt, an instructor from the YMCA, to help us and his imaginative training sessions were well attended. Next came Sarah, an aerobics instructor and it was hilarious watching senior male players working out to dance music.

Club Day was an end of season tradition that gained momentum after the womens section was formed. Hastily-arranged inter-club grudge matches, curry, beer, seven-a-side hockey tournaments were the order of the day.

Club unity remained a struggle for much of the 1990s with insufficient movement in middle mens sides, which had become cliques. For instance, Ricky Leaver was actually dropped by the selectors from the mens 4th XI to 5th XI in selection the season before he became a regular in the 1st XI.

Fieldview (a satirical hockey rag written by members Jerry Gardner and Jon Calver) said: This year the third eleven will either (a) be proving theyre an integral and integrated part of the club or (b) demonstrating there is no truth in the rumour that surveyors are estate agents in drag The opinions expressed in this organ do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone, although they might do, especially in the respect of comparing surveyors to estate agents, which always irritates the hell out of the former.

The mens first eleven was also starting to be a cause for concern in 1993. Up to the Christmas break they had won only once in the Nastro Azzurro (previously Peroni) Premier South Hockey League. They eventually recovered to avoid relegation, but the relocation of manager Albert de Souza to Aberdeen was a blow at the end of the season.

The Ladies first team under Brigid Murray, who had been promoted to the Surrey first division, found the competition too tough and were relegated.

1994/5 saw the introduction of Thursday training on two Battersea pitches and a new first XI captain in Graeme Bilsland who took over from Bob Critchlow. New secretary, Nick Rider, also took over from John Davis after 22 years. An excited note from Tochi said Nick Rider now has the financial data available on his lap top PC!. This is progress.

Nick Rider described the season like this: Graemes introduction to captaincy was not always easy but he passed with flying colours. Chiselled features, an iron determination and an irrepressible way with words are the hallmarks of a great leader. Even John Stenner is reputed to have listened to him during one team talk.

This proved to be false dawn. In 1996/97, an end of season note says: Traditionally, the performance of the Mens 1st XI sets the tone for the whole club. Their relegation from the Nastro Azzurro Premier South Hockey League has therefore cast a shadow over season 1996/7. With just four wins in their 19 league games, and only 24 goals socred, the team fell a long way short of survival. They will start next season in the Hampshire/Surrey League. Phil Clegg acknoweldges that many of his squad failed to play to their potential. However, a s a Club, we must also accedpt that this was the season in which some of Spencers underlying problems came home to roost. If nothing else, relegation should force us to look afresh at key issues like coaching, youth devleopment, fitness, player recruitment, team management, tactics, sponsorship and Club unity. In his report last year, Club Captain tochi Panesar said: To be realistic we have some way to go before we can set our sights on national League status but dropping out of the South would be a disaster. The unthinkable has happened: what matters now is the way we respond to this set-back. On a much happier note, congratulations to the Ladies 1st XI who achieved an unexpected promotion and regained their place in Division One. The impact that our buyoant Ladies section has had on Spencer Hockey Club is, without doubt, the biggest success story of the last ten years.

What a difference a year makes. In 1997/98 good preformances by both the mens and ladies 1st XIs, captained by Alex Von Der Heyde and Rachel Clark, gave the whole Club a lift. At the Rubens Hotel, we even managed to get the whole membership partying in one place at one time.

In the background, Simon Marsh, supported by members of the Cricket and Tennis sections of the Spencer Club, was already working hard to put together a lottery application for an astroturf pitch at Fieldview. New treasurer Lesley Gairns was working hard to think through issues like fundraising, the upgrading of facilities to support community use, the Clubs youth policy, lease renewal and how to secure planning permission for our astro.

Letting go, 1998

Harlequins player, Edward Simpson had some radical ideas that never really found favour with the Spencer committee. His concept was to create a team that behaved like a touring team, all year long! When Edwards sister Caroline began going out with fourth team captain Ed Kuzemko, the two Eds became close friends and decided to begin a club of their own, the egotistically named London Edwardians.

Initially they managed to lure most of the mens 4th XI as the nucleus of their new Club, including some fine players like Jonny Jackson and Dave Littlewood. They found themselves a pitch beside the Westway and a sponsorship deal with Eds Easy Diner.

To their credit, their image was strong and they quickly attracted players. In a strange way, the split actually worked to Spencers advantage, establishing a friendly local rivalry which gave games an extra edge. The emergence of other teams in the local area, Wayfarers and Wanderers, has added to the number of local derbies.

The start of season 1998/9 was overshadowed by the tragic, premature death of Simon Metcalf the new Club Captain, followed afterwards by the sad loss of John Davis. We struggled to come to terms with the increased administrative burden and the low point came when our Mens 1st XI failed to honour a Surrey Cup fixture at Old Georgians, disappointing many of the senior members brought up on the Playing the game philosophy.

There was a growing amount of informal social acitivty within the Club, which owed much to Simon Reed and Rhian Thomas. Just before Christmas over 50 hockey players descended on the Clapham Grand and everyone managed to get past the bouncers arguably the result of the season.

Life at Fieldview was not nearly so exciting. Staggered pitch bookings killed any atmosphere generated by Fred Coxs hot dinners. We were fighting a losing battle as hockey became almost exclusively an astroturf game. Many young players joining the Club had never even played on grass.

Rhian Thomas became the first woman to be awarded the Grover Trophy for her outstanding contribution to the Club. Ironically, her replica trophy was inscribed Sportsman of the Year.

The influx of younger players towards the ends of the 90s and the growth of the womens section boosted the social life of the Club and in recent years this has felt a far more integrated Club. Teams still have very strong individual identities from the Gipsies to the Harlequins but now we all know each other.

Getting professional, 2000

In the 1990s the General Committee took an important decision to set up a management team of the principal officers of the Club with delegated powers to deal with the day to day running of the Club and to discuss forward planning. This liberated the officers and, as a result, I believe the Club became more adventurous in its decision making. Energetic members of the kitchen cabinet like Lesley Gairns, Lisa Pridie and most recently Roderick Glynn-Thomas have been able to move the Club forward without being tied up in the red tape.

In 1999, Tochi Panesar was elected the Chairman of Spencer Club while continuing his role as the Chairman of the Hockey Club. He saw this an opportunity to bring the hockey section closer to cricket and tennis, and ultimately a sports club that behaved as one.

At the turn of the millennium, it was decided to solve the kit issue once and for all with a new Spencer Hockey Club kit. Women and men would both wear a maroon shirt with navy blue collar and ice blue trim plus maroon socks with ice blue hoops, with navy blue shorts or skirts. Ben Llewelyn and Sarah Barden modelled the proposed new Spencer Kits at the AGM, cat-walk style.

Communication improved in the Club with the appointment of Lisa Preedy as Club Captain - the first woman to lead the playing side of the Club.

Lesley Gairns struck a deal with a lacrosse team to share the under-used grass pitches at Fieldview.

Harry Greenway became the natural successor to Jas Missan as President. Harry played for Spencer in the 1960s, then spent 18 years as MP for Ealing North. He had been involved in the battle for sport at government level and brought the same gusto to his job here.

Lesley Gairns drafted a new Club constitution in preparation for applications to grant-awarding bodies. In a pleasing example of symmetry, the motion, that the new constitution be adopted by the Spencer Hockey Club and replace all previous versions was proposed by Ralph Bob Skinner, who had drafted the previous constitution.

There were a few tensions in 2001-02, but mainly because members were hungry for success. New teams were evolving, including mixed hockey. Fitness levels had improved and the attendance at training and social events was good.

Treasurer, Lesley Gairns, worked hard to revive junior hockey, recognising that future funding could be dependant on a thriving junior section. She also changed our year end to synchronise with the other sections of Spencer. The Club announced a surplus of 7,500, with 5,000 ring-fenced for Project Redevelopment Of Spencer Club.

A 24-hour hockey marathon raised 6,000. Well-attended during the daytime, numbers dwindled just before dawn and as co-ordination became almost impossible, we decided to play with a football instead of a hockey ball.

The mens first XI, under their inspirational captaincy of Michael Irvine, won the EHA Trophy, defeating Wisbech Town 5-4 at the National Stadium in front of lots of travelling Spencer supporters. Gordon Hawes, their most loyal supporter was there, doffing his trilby. It was fitting that Gordon should be appointed President in time for our Centenary.

To the next 100 years!

The buoyancy of the still relatively new womens section, the creation of new mens sides, and the arrival of more professional attitudes to Club management, training, finance, youth development and Club integration have given us a boost.

Playing success by the senior mens and womens elevens has also acted as a catalyst to the whole club and now, as we celebrate our centenary, the Club is thriving on all fronts in terms of numbers, social life and playing success.

Occasionally, a lack of formality trips us up. But its so much more fun having our feet on the ground.

This is a club with a sense of its own identity, thanks in large part to the continuing involvement of senior members like Tochi Panesar, Richard Fowells, Tom Taylor, Hugh Dorrell, Gordon Hawes, Max Jason, Mike Marchant and Dr Harry Greenway. (After a life-threatening illness and operation, it was fantastic to see Ralph Bob Skinner laughing and joking at the Club Ball this year.)

Theres an unpretentious atmosphere which makes Spencer Hockey Club quite different from most of the Clubs we play. Our original slogan had it right the thing that matters most is Playing the game.