The History Of Nottingham Players (John Player) Hockey Club

Click here for a brief history of John Player & Sons The Company

The mens hockey section was formed as part of the John Player Athletic Club in the season 1924-1925, following a couple of seasons of unofficial mixed games.

The guiding light during this early period was Secretary, George Langham whose enthusiasm was not at all tempered despite difficulty in obtaining fixtures against local clubs in the city area. So the majority of games were against strong colliery sides, such as Mansfield, Bilsthorpe and Cresswell. Unfortunately during that first season the club's record defeat was inflicted by Creswell 24-0 - A score that was to be reversed many years later in a 2XI match against the sadly now defunct Notts Gregory.

However, the early stalwarts were not deterred and a few years later John Player took their place in local hockey with fixtures against Beeston, Notts Gregory, Rolls Royce, Boots, Meridian, Mundella Old Boys and Ericssons.

The 1930s saw much travelling with fixtures at Bradford, Grimsby, Rotherham, Sheffield, Leicester, Skegness, Bridlington and Melton Mowbray. The last venue causing much amusement one year when the appointed umpires failed to turn up and secretary, George Langham officiated using his motorcycle horn as no whistle was available.

The 1950s saw a progression in the club under the leadership of Norman Greasley, who became John Player's first official to become the County Umpires President from 1955-57.

The Annual Club Dinner was revived in 1951 after the Second World War in the top room of the recreation Ground at Aspley Lane. This event under the guidance of George Thomas, Dave Lewthwaite and John Rickard progressed to become a most successful evening and was regarded by many to be the unofficial season's highlight of Nottinghmshire County hockey. The event was an annual sell out with over 100 attendees.

Annual outings were arranged to Cheetham Hill in Manchester, including the mandatory stop at the "Bull-I'-The-Thorn" hostelry in Buxton, resulting in more involuntary stops thereafter to relieve the pressure. The demand for this event gradually dwindled to be replaced in the early 1970s by an annual outing to Skegness - Temporarily losing its popularity when the Committee insisted the team take the pitch sober - This decision was subsequently reversed.

The early 1950s were also a time for inter branch and Tobacco Trades Athletic Association competitions - But it was not until 1956 and at the eighth attempt that John Player won their first 6-a-side tournament at East Molesey.

Of the 22 teams competing that year, John Player encountered old and enduring rivals Imperial Tobacco Company of Bristol who were defeated 4-0 in the final, starting a run of wins in 1957/8 and 61 which lapsed until the early 1970s. John Player then monopolised the TTAA competition in 1972/3 and 4 when the final was between John Player A and B teams, held at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Tony Birchmore scored the winning goal for the B team.

The Golden Jubilee season of 1974/5 heralded a change in attituded for John Player. The club was fortunate for the following 10 years to have a stable back room staff of Gordon Mckenzie, Roy Sale, John Morley and Malc Elston. Keith Tatham led the club on the field for many years and became the first player to represent the county senior side - He was also instrumental in promoting the social side of the club in an effort to lose the stigma of being a "Works Side".

John Player always supported the county administration and umpiring associations and in 1975 Bert Markham was elected President of Nottinghamshire Umpires Association for a period of 2 years, whilst Gordon McKenzie became the club's first President of the Nottinghamshire Hockey Association from 1978-80.

1984/5 saw Bert Markham elected a life Vice-President of the Nottinghamshire Umpires Association, with Mick Upton elected Chairman of the County Indoor Hockey Committee and also Indoor Umpires Appointment Secretary. During the same season David Bradury was appointed the Outdoor Umpires Appointment Secretary.

On the playing side the mid 70s saw an upsurge in the club's fortunes in all aspects.

The Midland Leagaue started in 1976/7 and in its first year the club were promoted as runners-up to Grantham from division 4 North East to division 3 East with an impressive record reading P 13 W 11 D 1 L 1 F 47 A 4 Pts 23. Unfortunately the following year the club was relegated.

The league was re-organised the following year (A regular future occurrence) and the club found themselves in division 6 East. The club managed to gain promotion in 1978/9 with a record of P 13 W 12 D 1 L 0 F 47 A 4 Pts 23.

Two years later the club was again promoted as runners-up to Streetly and again in 1982/3 as runners-up to Leicester University.

The club appeared in 5 County Cup semi-finals in 1977/8, 1978/9, 1979/80, 1982/3 and 1983/4 - An achievement only surpassed by South Nottingham and Nottingham.

6-a-side hockey proved successful for the club, both indoors and outdoors. Amongst the successes were an appearances in the final of the Beeston 6s in 1976, losing 2-0 to Derby, a further semi-final appearance in 1982. Success at the Boston 6s in 1982, Winners of the Carlton 6s in the same year and again in 1983 and winners of John Player’s own tournament in 1978 and again in 1984 defeating a strong South Nottingham side were an indication of the club’s improving ability.

The erection by John Players & Sons of an indoor sports hall at the club’s ground, Aspley Lane in 1981 heralded the improvement in indoor skills. Regular training and coaching assisted by South Nottingham enabled the club to become joint second in the county with Nottingham University just behind South Nottingham.

An invitation to the Zulu tournament in Coventry resulted in a semi-final appearance in 1984 and in their last Midland’s cup appearance defeats by Bournville and Stone did nothing to diminish a growing reputation.

The Aspley Lane venue has also been used by other clubs for international invitation tournaments. Whilst John Player have acted as hosts for national cup rounds, divisional events and matches and on two occasions the national side played to a packed audience.

The social side didn’t suffer during this period with regular discos being held in the Radford Room at Aspley Lane. 1975 saw the club’s first Easter festival outing to Lowestoft resulting in a record 9-2 thumping of Lowestoft Railway. This was following by regular outings again to Lowestoft, Blackpool and the Islanders Festival in Portsmouth. These tournaments were latterly superseded by the mixed festival in the Isle Of Man.

The annual fixture against the Royal Navy Under 21s, together with it associated evening disco ran for 10 years and whilst honours were pretty even on the pitch the Navy were undefeated in the Boat Race (Drinking not sailing).

Currently the club has suffered a slide in its fortune and resides in the East Midlands Premier, still running 4 sides. The club is currently trying to rebuild its junior section and hopefully in the years to come will regain its former place in the Midlands Premier League.

In April 2010 the club changed its name from Players hockey club to Nottingham Players hockey club to give itself a geographical location and finally merged with the ladies section.