Instonians
It has been a wonderful journey for Instonians Hockey Club who started in Sept 1959 with only 14 players playing Intermediate League Hockey and now as they come to celebrate their 50th Anniversary they are one of the leading clubs in Ireland with superb playing and social facilities at the ShawsBridge Sports Complex in South Belfast.
As is well known Ralph Spearman was one of those who developed hockey at Inst in the late forties and was the inspiration behind the formation of Instonians Hockey Club in 1959.No one could have foreseen the development of the Club as a major force in Ulster and Irish Hockey as is in evidence today.
From formation in 1959 Senior League status was achieved in the 1965-66 season when victory over Parkview gained Instonians promotion. Their first Senior League game was played away to Banbridge when a creditable 1—1 result was achieved and as a Senior Club we were up and running.
The current Club Chairman Tommy Reid scored the goal which gained promotion against Parkview and also went into the record books as the scorer of Instonians first Senior League goal in that one all draw at Banbridge. Instonians have maintained their Senior/Premier League status and are just about to enter their 42nd season as a Senior/Premier Club.
In those early days Haydn Taylor and the late Gordon McIlroy were inspirational Captains. Haydn has in so many ways over so many years been a real Club stalwart being actively involved in all that goes on within the Club and helping specifically with Kenny Lee in the development of the youth coaching programme which they saw as vital to the ongoing well being of the club. The Club has a thriving youth section now under the leadership of Mark McCullough with over 100 boys been coached each week during autumn and winter.
International Player to follow.. Honours The success of the Club is well documented having in the past eleven years contested five Irish Senior Cup finals winning four times and during this period four Irish Club Championships have also been won. Success has also been achieved on the domestic front by the 1stXI and by the various junior teams which includes the 2ndXI success in the Irish Junior Cup and also the winning of Junior League 1 in the 2008/2009 season.
In view of the Clubs success in the Irish Senior Cup and the Club Championship they have represented Ireland in Europe on seven occasions
1996-Gibraltar-European Cup Winners B Division 2nd place
1997-Cagliara-European Club Championship B Div 1st place
1999-Milan-- do 4th place
2000- Hosts Belfast do 2ndplace
2003—Barcelona- Cup Winners Cup A Division 7th place
2005—Zagreb—European Hockey Challenge 1 1st place
2006---Vienna-Euro Hockey Cup Winners Trophy 5th place
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Visit Website Province Ulster Home Ground Shawsbridge Kit to follow.. Changed Kit to follow.. Address Shaw's Bridge
123 Milltown Road
Belfast
BT8 4XP
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