History
The RUC Men's Hockey Club was established in 1935 and its first Captain was REG Shillington. The Club played at Newtownards beside the old RUC Training School. In the 1938-39 Season the Club won the Braddell Shield.
There are very few records in existence from the early days of the Club. However, it is known that the Club took a very active part in all competitions throughout Ireland, winning the Irish Junior Cup in 1952 against Monkstown (2-1). The match was played at Cliftonville, and the team on that occasion was Armstrong, Shaw, Graham, Reid, Russell, Fleming, Cowan, Bradley, Tweedie, Higginson, and McDowell.
The first RUC Officer to be elected to the Ulster Branch was John Graham in 1953. In 1956 the RUC Athletic Association bought grounds, from the old CPA at Newforge Lane on the edge of the River Lagan in South Belfast. Following the purchase, RUC gradually moved towards Senior League status.
During the 60s and 70s the RUC played with two teams in Ulster hockey, finding it extremely difficult to maintain sides and compete against growing opposition. Not that the players were apathetic, but circumstances were such with regard to the civil unrest that duty commitments often prevented their availability for selection. In 1971 the RUC clubhouse at Newforge Lane was damaged in a terrorist attack and the Hockey Club then played at Shore Road, Church Road, and latterly at Manse Road for some years. s.
In 1982 they entered the British Police Championships for the first time. Winning their way through to the Final which was played at Leeds, their opponents were the London Metropolitan Police, whom they beat 3-1.
Since then the RUC First XI have competed in the competition every year; winning it on 11 occasions against opposition from 26 other police forces. Over the recent years the Club have been represented on the British Police representative team against the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, by Tommy Hughes, David Meeke, Ricky Cox, Norman McManus, Gary Nelson, Ian Forbes, Norman Mulholland, Terry Mulholland and David Purdy.
Ricky Cox has captained the Ulster Junior side on several occasions. Billy Anderson and David Dunwoody have participated in the Club at both player and administrator level and have represented the RUC at the Ulster Branch.
The unique circumstances surrounding the PSNI Hockey Club mean that unlike other Clubs there are no youth teams and therefore no 'nursery' of young talent, necessitating all players joining at Senior level. This in no way diminishes the commitment each week of the players nor their enthusiasm for the game. This, of course, is what the game is all about.