Mid Somerset Hockey Club is a club steeped in history going back to when it was called "Morland HC". We have some great ex players who were part of the club in both forms and will be contributing to creating the clubs history.
The Club thanks the following who have provided this history to save;
One of the enduring memories of the ‘Morland’s era’ was the quality of grass pitches and facilities that were available. The number one pitch was always considered to be one of the best if not the best in Somerset. From as early as 1925 when the first county match was hosted (Somerset ladies v Dorset) the ground was regularly used for representative games. In 1965 the West entertained the Midlands and described the pitch and hospitality as excellent.
In 1972 Brean beat Old Bristolians 1-0 in the County Cup Final with the County Secretary describing the pitch as ‘immaculate’. In 1973 Somerset ladies entertained New Zealand (losing 0-8), and in 1981 Somerset men played Norfolk in the National County Championship quarter final. The building of the current pavilion and new changing rooms in 1956 was a major asset and the extension in 1965 saw the bar and Social Club open (now Tor Sports & Leisure, Glastonbury). The Athletic field remained the Club’s home until the autumn of 1999. A new astro pitch had been installed at the Blue School in Wells and the club moved all its teams to this new venue, where the club still plays today.
Year
Competition
Position
1947
Ladies Somerset County Cup
Finalists Vs Weston (0-1)
1954
Inter Club County Tournament
Winners Champions of Somerset
1960 & 1961
Regarded as one of the best clubs in the Somerset
1974
Men's Somerset County Cup
Finalist Vs Firebrands (0-1)
1977
Men's Somerset County Cup
Winners Vs Weston (1-0)
1978 & 79
Ladies Somerset County Cup
Winners
1978, 80, 82
Men's South Division 1
Winners
1979
Men's Somerset County Cup
Winners Vs Brean (1-0)
1978
National 6-aside Tournament
Winners Vs Spencer (1-1 ; 5-4 Flicks)
Year
Event
1923
Morlands Hockey Club Founded
1956
Pavilion and new changing rooms added to The Athletic Field (Now Tor Sport & Leisure, Glastonbury)
1965
Bar & Social Club Opens (Now Tor Sport & Leisure, Glastonbury)
1982
Morlands Went into Receivership and dissolved.
1983
Ladies side splits and moves to Street to form Victoria Ladies HC (Based at Victoria Sports Club, Street)
1986
Men's side form Mid Somerset HC
1989
Ladies side returns to join Mid Somerset
1999
Mid Somerset moved to the new astro pitch at The Blue School, Wells.
Name
Year
Level
Mrs N Pollard
1947
County, West and England Reserve Team
Gillian Blacker
1954
County
Marion Munday
1954
County
Judy Carter
1974
County, West and England Team - 1975 World Championship Winner
Ang King
Late 1970s
County
Ang Stephens
Late 1970s
County
Jenn Fennely
Late 1970s
County
Paul Lukins
1979
Cedric Wildblood
1979
Chris Mantell
1979
Alan Clayton
1979
Gavin Featherstone
1979
Coached USA 1984 Olympics & South Africa 1996 Olympics
Hockey Author
Harry Riste Snr
1979
Ian Wallace
1979
Chris Tinnion
1979
The Club was formed in 1923 when the sheepskin tanning company ‘Clark Son & Morland’ purchased the former Athletic Field alongside Street Road in Glastonbury. Prior to World War One the field was a sports ground for the town but was sold to a farmer for grazing purposes at the end of hostilities as the cost of upkeep was too much of a burden. Morland’s Cricket Club had started in 1920 but didn’t have a home ground, so they approached the company to purchase the field and the directors were more than happy to oblige. In order to make use of the ground during the winter months, Morland’s Hockey Club was born. In the first year there were 14 mixed games and only two men’s. The first official game saw a mixed team win by two goals to nil at South Petherton, while the men’s first game was a one all draw versus Bridgwater.
For the second season the Club decided to run both men’s and women’s teams but being unable to field a regular side, the ladies section struggled. Although they won 9 out of 15 games, the results were mixed with a 13-0 victory and a 0-15 defeat. At the end of their second season, they took the decision to disband and amalgamated with the Street & Glastonbury Club to become ‘Northover Ladies’. Home games were still played on the Athletic Field.
There are very few records of the Club up to the Second World War but during this time the ladies came back to Morland’s and friendly matches were played through out these years. The club continued to play during the war with the mixed team playing regularly against forces teams from the Army and Navy that were stationed nearby. The ladies also held tournaments to raise money for the Red Cross and St John’s. They annually raised over £100 (in today’s values) which was a considerable sum in those days.
The club's original colours were green and old gold. Clothing was rationed after the war, but the club were fortunate to obtain Army surplus shirts. These were dyed green in the factory and the players 'wives stitched yellow edging onto the kit. The club’s traditional colours of maroon and old gold shirts and black shorts followed at a later date during the 1950’s. Post war the ladies team became one of the top teams in the county. They reached the county final in 1947 (losing 0-1 to Weston) and this attracted enough new players for two teams. Mrs N Pollard (a winger)was selected for Somerset and became a county regular, got selected for the West and was an England reserve
By 1954 there were three Morlands ladies in the county side as Pollard was joined by Gillian Blacker and Marion Munday. This year also saw the ladies win the Inter Club County Tournament at Weston to become virtual ‘Club Champions of Somerset’. 1960 and 1961 saw more success in the county tournaments when the club was regarded as one of the best teams in Somerset. One lady who did make her debut for England in 1974 was Judy Carter. Living in Street she played for Morland’s, Somerset and the West of England and was then selected to play against Ireland in Dublin. She won a number of England caps and played in the annual ladies’ fixture at Wembley the following year. The late 1970’s were also successful years with several County players including Ang King, Ang Stephens and Jenn Fennely. In 1979 the ladies retained the Somerset Cup by beating Taunton in the final and the 2nd XI also beat Taunton in their final (winning a penalty shoot-out 2-1) to complete a remarkable double.
The golden age for the men’s team started in the 1970’s and coincided with Harry Riste joining the Club. His vision and contacts improved playing standards considerably and attracted a number of high-profile players to the club:
to name but a few. All played for Somerset and Gavin Featherstone not only played for England but he would also end up coaching them, as well as becoming an Olympic coach in 1984 (with USA) and 1996 (South Africa).
1974 saw the men’s team in the county final (losing 0-1 to Firebrands) but they gained revenge against the same opposition in 1977 with a 2-1 victory at Weston. League hockey arrived for the 1977/78 season but theclub had mixed fortunes. They were not strong enough to hold down a regular place in the Premier League. They had a yo-yo experience with South Division One which they won three times. 1979 was a classic year – relegation form the Premier League after finishing bottom, but winning the Somerset Cup by beating Brean 1-0 in the final at Street.
This era also saw one of the club’s biggest achievements –the annual national 6-a-side tournament. Ian Wallace was instrumental in attracting strong teams from all over the country to play at Morland’s. Spencer won the inaugural competition in 1975 while in the following year 28 teams competed with Plymouth emerging as winners. Morland’s were winners in 1978 beating Spencer in the final 5-4 on penalty flicks after a 1-1 draw.
1982 had a significant impact on the club as the company from which the club was named went into receivership and was eventually dissolved. Within three years the ladies had moved to Street and were re-named ‘Victoria ladies’, while the men’s section renamed the club ‘Mid Somerset’ for the 1986/7 league season. The ladies 'section spent three years at Street before returning to the club under the same name as the men.
From 1986 Morlands Hockey Club became Mid Somerset H.C
1986 - 2000
2001 - onwards
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