1 November 2023
Discovering the centenary season of Kirkham Grammar School rugby was 2024-2025 came about during the Covid lockdown era as the OKA committee were researching the history of the association for our own centenary celebrations.
Since the announcement of the School Summer Ball, "Celebrating 100 years of KGS Rugby" we have unsurprisingly been asked by many pupils, staff and Old Kirkhamians, "What about KGS hockey?"
Through this group, we were aware that hockey at KGS was not introduced as part of co-education in 1979, but that it had been played before this date by the KGS boys. Over half term, we have had time to look through copies of the Kirkhamian in the school archive and it does appear that this 2024-2025 hockey season marks the 50th year of KGS hockey. The KGS hockey society had their first season in 1974-75 and the report on their inaugural season features in the images below. The boys continue to have a great deal of success on the hockey pitch throughout the 70s and 80s. Does anyone have any photographs they would like to share with us? It is pleasing to note that boys' hockey continues at KGS within curriculum time and there has been a number of fixtures this year.
If we look to the first competitive girl's hockey fixtures that feature in the Kirkhamian, this gives the first girls fixture, under Mrs NA Black, as the 1981-1982 season. This was a junior girls' team consisting of First, Second and Third Years. The results for the season were as follows: played 7, won 1, drew 2 and lost 4. As a side note, netball was the first competitive team sport with the girls playing fixtures from 1980 and going on tour to Portsmouth in February 1981.
During the season 1983-1984, we hear from Mrs I C Gault and Mrs R F Greaves of the Senior girls' team playing their first game, with the 1984-85 season being the first year with proper fixtures. The results for this season were as follows: played 10, won 2, drew 1 and lost 7.
Mrs J E Taylor talks of a senior team developing well in 1985-86. By 1991, KGS had an astro turf, Girl’s PE had run hockey tours to Wales and Holland and JET and her team (Tim Miller, Alan Hill, Pauline Walsh and a very young Mrs Glover (Miss Sampey), along with First Team coach Mr Alan Blackburn), were preparing to take on the world with the 1992 World Hockey Tour. It is wonderful to report that KGS hockey continues to go from strength to strength.
So, in conclusion, hockey at KGS has been going strong for 49 years! With girls' fixtures being played for 42 years.