The club was formed in August 1920 as part of Cheam Sports Club, with both a Men’s and Women’s Section.

The ground at Peaches Close was initially leased, and then subsequently purchased by the Sports Club in November 1921.

A new Pavilion was opened in 1931 at a cost of £2,300, and the club continued to develop as the population of Cheam Village increased. In 1933 the club was running 4 Men’s XI’s and 3 Women’s XI’s.

Activities were greatly restricted during the War, but the club lived on despite 3 bombs falling on the ground. During the restoration works, it was recorded that members of the Hockey Section conveyed a heavy roller from Cheam Recreation Ground along Malden Road through the village and on to the pitches.

Through the 1950’s, the Hockey Section continued to grow in strength and numbers, with several players from both sections achieving representative honours for Surrey.

In the early 1960’s, the main bar in the Pavilion was altered to incorporate the former ladies bar, and by 1965 all references to last train times and trolley buses were omitted from fixture cards. By this time 9 Men’s sides & 4 Women’s sides were being run on Saturdays. The Women’s Section ran a successful Sevens tournament every year and arranged two overseas hockey tours in the 1960s to Jersey and to Holland.

In 1970, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. Both sections were regular attendees at various festivals including Folkestone, Bournemouth, Weymouth and Ramsgate, and floodlit training evenings were run for the first time.

In the early 1980’s colts hockey was introduced, and indoor hockey took the stage for a while. Veterans teams also emerged at this time. Women’s league hockey began in 1985 and Cheam Women were the first winners of the Surrey 1st XI League.

1986 saw an invitation to the Eindhoven Tournament which marked the first entry into European competition for the Men’s Section and for many years led to legendary tales of adventure and mis-adventure.

The introduction of astroturf pitches began to affect the nature of the hockey environment, with traditional block fixtures against other clubs and multi-team occupation of the club bar becoming the exception rather than the norm. Investigation of our own astroturf pitch was the subject of many discussions over the second half of this decade.

Towards the end of this period the National League emerged as a landmark development of the sport in the UK.

During the 1990’s declining availability and strong competition from other clubs in our catchment area meant it became a struggle to run 6 Men’s sides and 4 Women’s sides, and the growing presence of astroturf within the club’s affairs led to financial difficulties arising from the need to hire external pitches whilst paying for largely unused grass pitches at Peaches Close.

However successful negotiations with both the Sports Club and London Regional Transport (owners of an astroturf pitch at North Cheam), together with the development of a strong Colts Section to provide new players for senior level, enabled the club to navigate these difficult years.

The captains worked hard at this time to restore some of the glory of past years, and this was reflected in excellent results and signs of increasing membership.

In 2000 the club began using the new astroturf pitch at Nonsuch School, and in 2002 the Men’s and Women’s Sections merged to form one club, which has now developed into a well-integrated Senior Section supported by an excellent coaching structure and a strong Juniors Section with boys & girls teams at all age ranges.

The club surpassed 100 years whilst navigating further challenges during the Covid pandemic, but once again it emerged undeterred and it continues to provide the same enjoyment and companionship for those who play our sport that it has always done.

Note: The above text includes extracts from the following documents which can be found in the Club Information section of this website….

• Cheam Hockey Club Diamond Jubilee 1920-1980
• Cheam Hockey Club 75th Anniversary 1920-1995
• Cheam Women’s Hockey Club History 1920s-1990s

OFFICERS OF THE CLUB

MEN’S SECTION (1920-2002)

PRESIDENT

CLUB CAPTAIN

CLUB SECRETARY

WOMEN’S SECTION (1920-2002)

PRESIDENT

CLUB CHAIR

CLUB CAPTAIN

CLUB SECRETARY

COMBINED MEN & WOMEN (from 2002)

PRESIDENT

CLUB CHAIR

CLUB CAPTAINS (Men / Women)

CLUB SECRETARY