Wotton-Under-Edge was a hockey club waiting to happen, ever since the mid 1980s. A steady stream of gifted players flowed from the junior coaching at the local school; Katharine Lady Berkeley's, and limited Astroturf facilities meant long journeys for the many town-based players, who were attached to widely dispersed clubs in the region.

However it took a chance meeting in a physiotherapy clinic involving the then Bristol based Willie Cruickshank to provide the vital catalyst. When his job transferred him to Wotton soon afterwards he ploughed his remarkable energy and enthusiasm for hockey into setting up an indoor team in 1989, with the help of local business Renishaw; Jotcham and Kendall; and Lloyds TSB. The potential was clear to see when the indoor team won its division in the Swindon and District Indoor League and in the following summer made it a double by winning the outdoor Bristol and District Summer League.

A year later an adequate number of players were willing to commit to playing mainstream hockey for the Wotton-Under-Edge Club and this led to the club being entered into the regional, now Gerrard, Hockey League in the season of 1991/92. From this starting point, (when the entire club membership attended league games) there has been almost uninterruptible progress for the club's 1st XI, who now play at the highest Regional Level in the mighty Premier Division 1.

As a new club, Wotton-Under-Edge wished to mark its arrival on the scene and therefore organised an annual tournament, played in early September at Clifton College sports ground. This year boasts its success, as now the tournament is in its 14th year. The format has remained the same, with eight senior teams and eight junior teams competing for the Harris Sports Shield and the CICA Trophy respectively. What has changed though is the standard of competition with many of the top teams in the West of England using the tournament as a pre season sharpener.

As the club has established its reputation it has attracted many more players so that a 2nd XI became viable in 1993/4 and a 3rd XI in 2000/1. The 2005/6 restructuring of the league obscures the success of the 2nd XI who have won five promotions in ten years. However it is well placed to have a successful league season as it continues to groom homegrown talent for the big step up into the 1st XI squad.

Working closely with the club's junior coaching scheme, the 3rd XI gives young players their first taste of senior hockey and last season helped four of its exceptionally talented players win county honours with Avon and Gloucestershire. With around 40 juniors registered with the club and the dedicated work of qualified coaches all year round, the club in investing strongly for a successful future. The steady influx of new players means that a 4th XI is a distinct possibility in a season or two, however the prime objective as far as a new team is concerned is to establish a women's team.

Wotton-Under-Edge remains essentially a club that is based in the local community with virtually all its members living or having connections with the town and its surrounding area. Therefore it is a strong desire that the club will have a local Astroturf pitch available in the near future through the work of the Wotton Community Sports Foundation.

Over the years Wotton have played their home matches in Gloucester, Berkeley, Yate, Stroud, and recently Thornbury. The opening of the pitch at Castle school means that Wotton can now play their home games closer to home in the 2005/6 season. This will also see Wotton bringing visiting teams back to Wotton itself for teas at The Royal Oak to underline the local roots of the club.

With the very real prospect of the 1st XI gaining promotion to the national league and the club's commitment to help players of all ages and abilities to enjoy the sport both on and off the pitch, Wotton-Under-Edge Hockey Club has a short, but very successful history that we hope our members are proud of and is attractive to players looking to join a new club.