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Derwent Hockey Club is the oldest hockey club in Derbyshire. It was established in 1897 on the banks of the River Derwent in Darley Dale, and has over its time produced a number of top players.
The history from it's beginnings to the mid-1990's is something of a mystery. Until the older players find time away from their pipe and slippers, it will remain thus. So come on Henry get scribbling!!!!
In 1994, following the requirement that all teams had to play their games on astroturf, the club went through a period of transition as it set up temporary home at Derby College, Mackworth. During this period, Derwent experienced a mixture of highs and lows.
The number of teams that turned out regularly on a Saturday dropped from four to three, and then a season latter dropped it down to two teams. However, the first team re-established itself on the quality of its hockey gaining two successive promotions to the East Midland Premier League, and reaching the final of the Derbyshire Cup, narrowly losing to Chesterfield 1 - 0 in the final during 1995.
If people judged Derwent's performance, by solely looking from the league table, it may appear that my time as first team captain was a largely un-dramatic period for the club. The first team maintained their East Midland Premier status over the course of these seasons, and we had a couple of good runs in the Derbyshire Cup. However, pure statistics could never even come close to explaining or detailing these traumatic times.
In 2001, news came through that a partnership between Derwent HC, Matlock Bailians HC, and Anthony Gell School had been successful in achieving a new pitch located back in our spiritual homeland… the Derbyshire Dales. This should have heralded a bright new beginning and a time of celebration for Derwent. Instead, it nearly proved to be the end of the club!
The move didn't really get off on the best foot, and the (in)famous first training session where only seven players turned up a week before the start of the season, wasn't perhaps ideal preparation. The second team was duly withdrawn from the league and the pressure was now on to keep the club going.
A series of frantic phone calls to formerly retired players, and to Derby based players who had previously said they didn't fancy the journey to Wirksworth, meant on 6th October 2001, Derwent played their first game at Wirksworth, with a total squad of 12 players! Although I think for a first game, we had the bare eleven!
The team for that historic day consisted of:
* Trevor Williams
* Fred Drabble
* Dan Bethell
* Henry Wallis
* Steve Langrick
* James Bolus
* Simon Taylor
* Heath Roberts captain
* Ash Wheldon
* Steve King
* ?????
Looking back at this period, some time later, I still don't know how we managed to survive as a club, and how we maintained East Midland Premier status is unfathomable!
Since this season Derwent have progressed at an incredible rate. In 2003, led by Ryan Bowden a second team was established, and successfully made an impact in their respective league.
This season saw Derwent take more strides forward, with the establishment of Derwent Colts, and a great cup run the National competition - The Harods HA Trophy. Derwent reached the last 8 in this national competition eventually going out to Henley Hockey Club, but not before re-establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
The appointment of James Steadman as first team coach sees Derwent increase the number of goals scored and finish comfortably mid-table.
The U15's played their first competitive games, in the U15 HA Cup. Despite losing to near neighbours Belper, a number of players produced superb performances. In the U15 HA Trophy they narrowly lose to penalty strokes, missing out on the quarter-finals in dramatic style.
Derwent U13's entered their first regional competition.
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