Western Wildcats Hockey Club

Last updated

Western Wildcats
Western Wildcats hockey club logo.png
Full nameWestern Wildcats Hockey Club
League Scottish Hockey National Leagues
Founded1898
Home groundMilngavie and Bearsden Sports Club, Auchenhowie Road
Website Official website
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Home
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The Western Wildcats Hockey Club is a field hockey club that is based at the Milngavie and Bearsden Sports Club in Milngavie, Scotland. [1] The men's section has five teams and the women's section has four teams. [2] Additionally there are occasional games for a veteran side.

Contents

History

Founded in 1898, Western held their first AGM on 25 March 1899. [3] Established originally in the West End of Glasgow, the club played hockey in that district for 70 years, during which time they never succeeded in finding a permanent ground which they could call their home. Nevertheless, they maintained their position as a prominent club in the West of Scotland and were highly regarded throughout Scotland. From the earliest times they provided many Scottish internationalists. [3] In 1900 the club joined the newly formed West of Scotland Asociation. [4]

After the second World War the club continued to prosper, fielding four teams regularly every weekend. But it was in 1968 that the major change occurred when the club became a fully integrated part of Milngavie and Bearsden Sports Club. This was a step of great significance, providing financial stability to the Sports Club and a permanent home for Western. [3]

With the requirement that top class hockey be played on artificial surfaces the first privately owned artificial hockey pitch was laid at Auchenhowie in 1994 providing facilities to Western players and contributing significantly to the improvement of playing standards throughout the club.[ citation needed ]

The men's first XI won the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1986 and became champions of Scotland for the first time when they won National League 1 in 1997 and embarked on five consecutive league title wins from 1997 to 2001. [5] Further league title success came in 2003 and 2004 to add to eight more Scottish Cup wins from 1996 to 2011. [5]

In 2002, the club formed a women's section. [6]

Kelburne Hockey Club emerged as the club's main rival in 2006 and restriced Western's success but in 2022 they achieved the league and cup double. [5] In 2025 the club won league title number 9.

Honours

Domestic

Europe

Notable players

Men's internationals

Extended content
PlayerEvents/NotesRef
Flag of Scotland.svg Thomas Austin EC (2025) [7]
Flag of Scotland.svg Callum Duke CG (2022)
Flag of Scotland.svg Graham Dunlop Oly (2004), CG (2006)
Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Golden EC (2025) [7]
Flag of Scotland.svg Rob Harwood CG (2018, 2022), EC (2021, 2025)
Flag of Scotland.svg Andrew Lochrin EC (2023, 2025) [7] [7]
Flag of Scotland.svg David Mansouri CG (2006)
Flag of Scotland.svg Vishal Marwaha CG (2006, 2010)
Flag of Scotland.svg Andrew McAllister EC (2025) [7]
Flag of Scotland.svg Andrew McConnell CG (2022) [8]
Flag of Scotland.svg Neil Menzies 1984–1998 [9]
Flag of Scotland.svg Graham Moodie Oly (2004)
Flag of Scotland.svg Ian Moodie CG (2014)
Flag of Scotland.svg Hugh Neilson 1913 [11]
Flag of Scotland.svg Douglas Simpson CG (2006)

Key

  • Oly = Olympic Games
  • CG = Commonwealth Games
  • WC = World Cup
  • CT = Champions Trophy
  • EC = European Championships


References

  1. "Location". Western Wildcats Hockey Club. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  2. "Teams". Western Wildcats Hockey Club. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "History of the Western Hockey Club 1898 – 1973". Western Wildcats Hockey Club. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  4. "Hockey" . Dundee Courier. 4 June 1900. Retrieved 4 August 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. 1 2 3 "National League - Men - Outdoor". Scottish Hockey Heritage. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  6. "Western Wildcats Women's Section". Western Wildcats Hockey Club. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "EuroHockey Championship II 2025 Men". FIH. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  8. "Commonwealth Games 2022: Alan Forsyth leads Scots hockey squad". BBC Sport. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  9. "Neil Menzies retires from Scottish Hockey". Scottish Hockey. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  10. "Scotland Men's squad for World League announced". Scottish Hockey Club. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  11. "Northern Players Are Selected" . Dundee Courier. 28 January 1913. Retrieved 5 August 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.