PRE-WAR PERIOD - 1921-1940 The Beginning

Following an advertisement in a Brisbane newspaper in 1921 by Mr. S. Willmott, a hockey meeting, at which six persons attended, was held for the purpose of commencing the game in this State.

After deciding that Mr. Willmott form a team from among his friends, it was also resolved that the Military Authorities be approached for the purpose of forming other teams. This was done and a Mr. Jock Stevens was deputised to approach the Valley 9th Battalion Cadets. Mr. Stevens arrived one night at the Boundary Street Drill Hall when the N.C.Os were receiving instruction and a team was formed on the spot. The Drill Hall was situated in the area which today is occupied by St. James' Catholic School and the entrance to Barry Parade.

Mr. Stevens knew nothing about hockey, but had played soccer and several of those present had also played soccer. They were told that hockey was played in a similar way.

The Early Years
The original members of the Club lived for Hockey only in the first three years. They trained five nights a week and sometimes all day Sundays. They read everything about Hockey they could lay their hands on and even played in the summer. This may be regarded as being selfish because the same eleven always played and the 12th man did not get a game for three seasons. The team won the Premiership in 1921-22 and 23. Many of the team in that short time visited Sydney and also played against New Zealand.

Unbeaten Record Continues
The Valley team continued unbeaten in 1924-26 and 27. In 1926 every member of the "A" team was selected for the Melbourne Carnival, nine being selected in the first pick, but when two of those originally selected had to withdraw, the other two were chosen to take their place. In 1927 the opposition was getting much better, but the team gained their best goal average of all time - 113 goals for 5 against.

Team Splits Up
In 1928, at the request of the Q.H.A, the top Valley team was split up to make the competition more even. It was reasoned that the fairest way that this could be done was to cut the team down the centre with the centre-forward going in the opposite side to the centre-half and tossing for the goal-keeper, the rest of both teams was filled up from lower grades. Both teams were fielded in "A" Grade. From the Association's point of view the split did not have the desired effect, as the teams were Premiers and Runners-up in 1928-29 and 30, and were only beaten by each other, making a record of seven years unbeaten by any other club.
The original first team was reformed in 1931 and the Club lost some good senior players in doing so to other clubs, as it could not continue to field two first division teams.

12 Premierships
About this time the Valley lower grades began to make their presence felt and were winning Premierships. The Club membership had grown by leaps and bounds. At this time also the Club had created what was believed then to be a world's record for any field game - twelve successive "A" Grade Premierships.
In the thirteenth year of existence Valley lost the Premiership to Windsor Club and had to take second place. However, they regained the Shield in the following year and held it through until the War Years.

Junior Club
Club member, Col Cormie, was the founder of Junior and Schoolboy Hockey in Brisbane in 1928 and thanks to his foresight the Club's growth since that date has always been from below.

During the Pre-War period the Club had fielded as many as seven (7) Junior teams in a year.

Touring Side - The Valley Wanderer
In the Pre-War era of the Club the Valley Wanderers was formed. This Club was formed within the Club and had a membership of 20. It did a tremendous lot to foster Country Hockey. It was simply a touring side which represented the Club in the country. It played in the Northern Rivers of NSW, Warwick, Gympie, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Dalby and elsewhere. The Valley Wanderers Club was disbanded as a result of the war, but its name had been kept alive by nominating the top representative sides in Intercity Carnivals in the Post-War period as Valley Wanderers teams.

WORLD WAR II YEARS - 1940-1945

Unofficial Competition
With the onset of hostilities, Premiership Competition in Brisbane was disbanded in 1940. During the years 1941-1945, a modified unofficial competition was held in which Valley played its part by fielding two teams each year.
Army teams took part in this competition and several Valley servicemen on leave played part-time with the Club.

Lest We Forget
We are proud of the fact that some 80 members of the Club served their country during this period. The Club suffered loss and we pay homage to the following members who paid the supreme sacrifice during this period.

Paddy Fitzgerald - RAAF
Jack Reid - AIF
Roy Shiels - AIF
Jim Heers - RAAF
Myles Jefferson - RAAF
Bernie Lee - RAAF

THE POST-WAR YEARS - 1946-1971

Fixture Games Recommence
After the cessation of hostilities in 1945 and the demobilisation of members in the services, Premiership Competition in Brisbane recommenced in 1946. The "A" Grade side was successful in winning the top Premiership in the first year of the post-war era.

Playing Highlights
During this Post-War period we have been successful in winning a large share in Premierships in all grades and in having Club Members attain representative honours in International and Interstate Hockey on many occasions, as a reference to the records will show.

Perhaps there were two outstanding occasions however, which are worthy of special mention. The first of these was in 1948 when no fewer than six Club Members were chosen for the Australian team to tour New Zealand. This was the first Australian team to win the Manning Memorial Cup.

The second year worthy of special mention was 1951 when the Club hit an all time high by winning, in Senior and Junior Divisions, no fewer than nine out of a possible twelve Premierships.

PRESENT DAY

Pre 1997 the Club continued with business as usual with the annual junior break-up taking the form of a fun day either at the home grounds or Kalinga Park. Games and races were organised for the young ones with the trophy presentation time being the highlight of the day. Bi-annual trips to Sydney to play matches against our sister club "Glebe" provided a source of interest within the Club for players and social supporters alike. The senior men's part of the Club raised funds by chook raffles in hotels (every Friday) and on the occasions when we had home games at Shaw Park. Everyone liked a beer and the goose clubs made good money. This good fortune was shared with the junior boy's section and the cost to play hockey for them was minimal.

Slowly as time moved onwards things changed. The drinking laws had a profound effect on bar profits as more players went home early, not prepared to risk being caught for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The artificial turf, an essential part of the modern hockey game, increased costs to players in the top grades, as there is a charge each time the field is used either for playing games or practice. Games and training are scheduled at night and therefore another cost of lighting is added.

Sponsorship has all but dried up with only those people who have a personal tie with the Club helping in a small way.

The cost of running a big club such as ours continued to increase and all fund raising went to paying the overheads such as lights for training, building and field maintenance, rates, lease costs, insurance, mowing, marking, cold rooms, canteen improvements, government costs etc.

In 1997 the Club Executive joined the ranks of "Contemporary Business Activities" with the formulation of it's Corporate Plan 1997-2001. The mission statement of that plan is "The establishment of a club that lives up to it's revered Alma Mater (NULLI SECUNDUS- Second to None) through its attainment of individual player success, team excellence, Club unity and prosperity."

In 1998 Valley Hockey Club Inc. entered into a five year licence agreement with Kedron-Wavell Services Club Inc. whereby Valley Hockey Club Inc. surrendered its unencumbered lease of Shaw Park to enhance the formulation/operations of a multi-sports complex titled Shaw Sportz Limited. The terms of licence provide for the running expenses on the old Shaw Park part of the complex to be met by Shaw Sportz Limited and Valley Hockey Club Inc. to pay an annual licence fee.
The primary benefits of the move to our Club were perceived as being: -
’Ä¢ Reduced direct maintenance costs (clubhouse, field lease etc)
borne by Valley Hockey Club Inc.
’Ä¢ A closer liaison between Valley Hockey Men and Women
’Ä¢ Maximisation of the use of Shaw Park
’Ä¢ Longevity of the occupancy of Shaw Park
’Ä¢ Minimisation of costs to players/parents
’Ä¢ Retention of the identity of Valley Hockey Club

In 2004 this Agreement has proved to provide mixed blessings. All of the aims stated above have been realised however. The stated objective of Shaw Sportz Limited is for no member club to have to pay any costs but for that to happen other ways of fundraising need to be found. The master plan includes the construction of an indoor complex capable of producing revenue through canteen profit and hire of the complex however the capital expenditure required to fulfil this goal is currently not available.

Valley Hockey Club was formed in 1921 and it continues to thrive when other clubs have faded. We have produced more players who have represented Australia than any other club in the Country. We are proud to belong to such an organisation with such a proud history and a strong future.