Cookstown Hockey Club
Encyclopedia
| Grounds | Coolnafranky Estate, Cookstown, Co Tyrone |
| Website | www.cookstownhockeyclub.com |
| redarmy@cookstownhockeyclub.com | |
| Secretary 2007-2008 | Lynn Caskey |
| Sports | Men's Hockey |
| Branch | Ulster Branch of the IHA Ulster Hockey Union The Ulster Hockey Union is the administrative arm of the Irish Hockey Association with responsibility for men's hockey throughout the province of Ulster.... |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Club Colours | Red shirt, white shorts, red socks |
Cookstown Hockey Club is a hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
club based in Cookstown
Cookstown, County Tyrone
Cookstown is a town and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the fourth largest town in the county and had a population of nearly 11,000 people in the 2001 Census. It is one of the main towns in the area known as Mid-Ulster. It was founded around 1620 when the townlands in the area...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is affiliated to the Ulster Branch
Ulster Hockey Union
The Ulster Hockey Union is the administrative arm of the Irish Hockey Association with responsibility for men's hockey throughout the province of Ulster....
of the Irish Hockey Association
Irish Hockey Association
The Irish Hockey Association is the governing body for the game of hockey throughout the island of Ireland.The Association was formed in 2000 with the merger of the Unions that managed the men's and women's game separately. These Unions had governed the sport of hockey since the late 19th...
and was founded in 1951. The first team currently plays in the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League
Ulster Senior League (Men's Hockey)
The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
and are current holders of the Irish Senior Cup
Irish Senior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Senior Cup is the premier knock-out trophy played for by the best men's hockey clubs in Ireland. It is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.-Historical format:...
. In addition the club also fields five Junior League teams and two ladies' teams. The ladies' team currently play in the second tier of Ulster Hockey in senior league section one.
Early years
From their foundation in 1951, Cookstown gained promotion from the Junior League to Intermediate League Section A of the Ulster Senior LeagueUlster Senior League (Men's Hockey)
The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
in season 1954-55.
A period of consolidation followed before Cookstown started to progress upwards in the ranks of Ulster hockey. In 1966-67 Intermediate League Section A was finally won to gain entry to Qualifying League Section B. The following season saw their league won again and promotion to Qualifying League Section A.
When the Ulster Senior League was re-organised after the 1968-69 season, Cookstown had performed well enough in their first season in Qualifying League Section A to secure a place in the new Section 2. For the next five seasons Cookstown proved to be one of the stronger teams in the Section, but always fell just short of promotion to the top flight of Ulster hockey.
Season 1974-75 finally brought the long awaited win of Section 2 and Cookstown secured their place in the top flight of the Ulster Senior League
Ulster Senior League (Men's Hockey)
The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
. Their position in the top Section of the League has been retained continuously from that date.
1980s
The 1980s was a period of success for the club and saw Cookstown experience European competition for the first time.In 1979-80 the club fought its way through to the Irish Senior Cup
Irish Senior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Senior Cup is the premier knock-out trophy played for by the best men's hockey clubs in Ireland. It is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.-Historical format:...
Final for the first time, losing to Belfast YMCA by two goals to nil. The disappointment was tempered when their opponents were unable to represent Ireland in the European Club Cup as participation would involve playing on a Sunday and Cookstown accepted an invitation to take their place.
Cookstown won a qualifying tournament and went on to the main event in Rome. They won the Final on penalty-flicks. They became the first Club in Ireland to win a major European competition.
In 1983 the club won the Ulster Senior League
Ulster Senior League (Men's Hockey)
The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
Section 1 for the first time in their history. They made it a double by also winning the Anderson Cup
Anderson Cup (Ulster hockey)
The Anderson Cup is a hockey tournament for clubs that are members of the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League. The current holder is Banbridge.-Trophy:...
.
The Irish Senior Cup
Irish Senior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Senior Cup is the premier knock-out trophy played for by the best men's hockey clubs in Ireland. It is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.-Historical format:...
came to Cookstown for the first time in 1986-87. As underdogs they beat Banbridge
Banbridge Hockey Club
Banbridge Hockey Club is a hockey club based in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. The club currently plays in the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League. The club was formed in 1897.-Grounds:...
4-0 at Blaris, in the last Final to be played on a real grass pitch.
In 1988, as a result of their Irish Senior Cup success, Cookstown were again in European competition and finished 7th in the Premier section of the tournament held in Holland.
The only major trophy that had eluded Cookstown, the Kirk Cup
Kirk Cup
The Kirk Cup is the oldest hockey tournament in Ulster and the oldest provincial hockey trophy in Ireland. It has become a tradition since the 1966-67 season for the final to be played on Boxing Day, a date previously reserved for the Anderson Cup Final. The final attracts the largest crowd of the...
, was finally won in 1988-89 when Mossley
Mossley Hockey Club
Mossley Hockey Club is a field hockey club for men based in the village of Mossley in Newtownabbey, County Antrim. It was formed in 1929 following a meeting of employees of Henry Campbell’s Mill in the village. The club currently fields six adult teams, with the first team plaing in the Premier...
were beaten by one goal to nil at Blaris.
The 2nd team also joined the trophy winning when they won two Irish Junior Cups
Irish Junior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Junior Cup is a knockout trophy played for field hockey clubs in Ireland. Entry is open to sides that do not qualify for the Irish Senior Cup and to the second teams of clubs that play in the Irish Senior Cup...
in 1983 and 1985.
1990 onwards
The successes of the 1980s were hard to follow and a long barren spell ensued before a return to success with the capture of the Kirk CupKirk Cup
The Kirk Cup is the oldest hockey tournament in Ulster and the oldest provincial hockey trophy in Ireland. It has become a tradition since the 1966-67 season for the final to be played on Boxing Day, a date previously reserved for the Anderson Cup Final. The final attracts the largest crowd of the...
in 2002-03 and 2006-07.
The club attained their best league position since the eighties, when they finished second in 2006-07. A winner-takes-all game against the eventual winners Annadale
Annadale Hockey Club
Annadale Hockey Club is a hockey club based at Carryduff, County Down. The club currently plays in the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League.-Formation:...
in the last fixture of the season was lost. A victory would have won the league for Cookstown.
In the 2007-08 season, Cookstown captured the Premier League for the second time in their history.
The premier league title was retained in the 2008-09 season and the Kirk Cup was also secured. The Premier League and Kirk Cup double was repeated in 2009-10.
The league title was lost in 2010-11. However, a twenty four year wait came to an end when Cookstown once again won the Irish Senior Cup
Irish Senior Cup (Men's Hockey)
The Irish Senior Cup is the premier knock-out trophy played for by the best men's hockey clubs in Ireland. It is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.-Historical format:...
in 2011 by defeating Monkstown by four goals to three in the final.
Honours
- Irish Senior CupIrish Senior Cup (Men's Hockey)The Irish Senior Cup is the premier knock-out trophy played for by the best men's hockey clubs in Ireland. It is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.-Historical format:...
(2 wins)- 1986-87, 2010-11
- Irish Junior CupIrish Junior Cup (Men's Hockey)The Irish Junior Cup is a knockout trophy played for field hockey clubs in Ireland. Entry is open to sides that do not qualify for the Irish Senior Cup and to the second teams of clubs that play in the Irish Senior Cup...
(2 wins)- 1982-83, 1984-85
- Ulster Senior LeagueUlster Senior League (Men's Hockey)The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.-Formation:...
(4 wins)- 1982-83, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009-10
- Kirk CupKirk CupThe Kirk Cup is the oldest hockey tournament in Ulster and the oldest provincial hockey trophy in Ireland. It has become a tradition since the 1966-67 season for the final to be played on Boxing Day, a date previously reserved for the Anderson Cup Final. The final attracts the largest crowd of the...
(5 wins)- 1988-89, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009-10
- Anderson CupAnderson Cup (Ulster hockey)The Anderson Cup is a hockey tournament for clubs that are members of the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League. The current holder is Banbridge.-Trophy:...
(2 wins)- 1982-83, 1992-93
International representatives
The following Cookstown players have represented Ireland at full International level:- Martin Sloan - played for Ireland 149 times and was Captain in more than 100 games
- Andy Barbour - won 86 Caps and scored twelve goals for Ireland, retiring after the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in New Zealand in February 2008.
- Mark Burns
- Geoff Hamilton
- David Larmour
- David Ames - Current (4 Caps)
- Keith Black - Current (13 Caps)
- Colin Donaldson - Current (1 Cap)