ABOUT US
EUMHC was founded in 1901 and has a long history within the University, Scottish Hockey, and GB Hockey. We are one of the oldest hockey clubs in Scotland. Over the years there have been many notable Alumni of the club with numerous players going on to represent Scotland and Great Britain at both the U21 level and Senior level.
A Message From Our President
We are immensely proud to be the largest Men’s University Hockey Club in the UK, one of the largest male senior clubs in Scotland, and quite simply the best sports club in the country.
We have 7 teams and thus are able to cater to all abilities. Therefore whether you are yet to pick up a stick or have represented Great Britain in the Olympics, there is a place for you in EUMHC. Most teams will play two fixtures a week: we have 6 teams entered in the Wednesday BUCS (British Universities and College Sports System) whilst we also have 7 teams split across all tiers of the weekend Scottish Hockey League System.
Our 1XI plays in Scottish Premiership, the highest league in Scotland and they compete with English Universities in the BUCS system playing in Premier League, a whole division above the rest of Scotland. Our other teams are spread throughout the league structures with the 2’s & 3’s playing in central leagues whilst the 4’s, 5’s, 6’s, and 7’s play more locally in the East of Scotland.
We are in an incredibly lucky position to be able to offer high-quality coaching across all our teams. An experienced coaching team including 2x Scottish Hockey Coach of the Year Neil Allan, former Scotland Under 18’s coach Bill Robson and our Head of Hockey Development Janice Hudson-Windsor.
We have a fantastic reputation at the Club for channelling young international talent, training hundreds of former and current international hockey players, more than any other hockey club in the country. Our current and former international talent has ranged from Scotland, England, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Cyprus, The Netherlands, and Germany.
Aside from hockey we also have one of the most vibrant social scenes at the university that few other sports clubs in the UK can compete with. Our sponsor pub, Revolution, hosts us after matches for food and drink, providing the perfect environment to get to know your teammates and the rest of the club. We also have regular themed socials, that are famous around the university, which we share with our counterparts, Edinburgh University’s Women’s Hockey Club. This combination of Men’s and Women’s clubs gives us one of the largest university sports social scenes in the UK with over 500 members.
In terms of our inclusivity and wellbeing, we strive to achieve the highest of standards, with the forefront goal of becoming one of the most inclusive clubs in Scotland, both on and off the pitch. Our club members come from all walks of life, many coming from the four home nations as well as a strong percentage of European and international athletes. Our charity work over the past years has been tremendously strong, with over £4.8k raised for our annual charity It’s in the Bag, which raises awareness for testicular cancer, as well as Action for Children. No matter where you come from in life, if you can sit down at a social or step onto the pitch and have fun, you’ll be more than just welcomed at EUMHC.
If you would like to find out any more information regarding the club then please don’t hesitate to contact me at clubcaptain@mens.euhc.co.uk or get in touch on Facebook, Twitter (@eumhc), or Instagram (@eumhc). I’m always very happy to speak to you whether you are a potential or returning member, are looking for more information, or just a more general hockey chat!
We are much more than your typical sports club. Our strengths lie, not only in our club size and performance on the pitch but also in our famous social scene, our dedication to charity, and our promotion of a strong inclusive environment makes us one of the best clubs in the United Kingdom. We are Edinburgh University and this is Edinburgh University Men’s Hockey Club. #wearethegamblers #bleedgreen
Florian Garland-Hoff
123rd President of Edinburgh University Men’s Hockey Club
Our History
Our History
Early History (1901-2000)
The first mention of Hockey at the university was in 1899 when a notice was published in the Student which read "Would those in favour of starting a Hockey Club in connection with the University kindly forward their names and addresses to the Secretary, Hockey Club, University PO?" One of these founding members was G.M.Melville who although was born in Ireland he was schooled in England and attended university in Scotland.
There is no further mention of the club until 1901 when pitches were secured at Craiglockhart and play commenced. On 18 November that year the University Hockey Club as represented that year at the meeting of clubs in Scotland when it was agreed to form a Scottish Hockey Association, making the club a founding member of the modern association. The first match was played against Dumbarton and it was lost with the rest of the season recording 11 played, won 4, lost 5 and drawn 2. By the end of the season a second XI was started and so the sport must have proved a success.
The club was admitted to the University Athletic Club (now the Sports Union) in 1902 when W. Sibbald Robertson was the captain and in that year no less than 5 University players were recorded internationalists. T.P Caverhill was one of these 5 and must have been especially good given his numerous mentions and was subsequently awarded blues. The 1905–1906 season was especially good when of the sixteen matches played, twelve were won, three drawn and only one lost. One member of this team was especially of note. Frank Fasson was a former internationalist rugby player and must have brought all his speed and fiery temperament to the Hockey pitch which he demonstrated one match when he took a dislike to his opposing number and slashed his stick against the man's shins. The next week Frank had a tooth ache and went to the dentist and much to his dismay found that his dentist consultant was none other than his previous opposing player. However the great sportsman Dr N.L. Stevenson took neither advantage nor a fee. It was Fasson who was playing later that season when Scotland secured the first Scottish victory when playing against the Welsh; the result was 3–1.
The best season in the club was recorded in 1908-1909 when the first XI was unbeaten and six of the squad were chosen to represent Scotland. It was around this time that toy rabbits first appeared in the team photos presumably as mascots of the club.
Like most sports the First World War halted hockey matches although the club was re-established for the 1919–1920 season. The remarkable growth in the Sport meant that in the following season five teams were fielded for the university. The club suffered a dry spell for victories until 1930-1931 when the competition for places on the teams was so great that an inter-society matches were organised. This successful season saw the first touring side to go down to English Universities and victories were recorded against both Durham and Manchester. It is also in this season that the Scottish Inter University Championship was first recorded which Edinburgh won which was followed the next season with the first successful tour to Ireland. This successful vein continued with the Scottish Championships residing with Edinburgh University until the 1938–1939 season, the last before the Second World War.
There was no shortage of matches to be found during the war this time with 20 matches recorded each season. It is the 1942–1943 season which saw the first incarnation of the Scottish university teams play the United Services with no less than six Edinburgh men in the team. Much of the success gained by the team was attributed to the brilliant E.Evans Anfom as club captain.
In the history up to 1959 the club recorded a total of 32 full internationalists and one (S.P Theobald) who represented Great Britain and between these players they recorded 183 international caps.
1980s (The Golden Period)
In the 1980s, the club won 16 collective and individual awards from the Edinburgh University Sports Union (5 of which were collective awards, 11 individual awards) including 3 back-to-back Club of the Year awards. With so many awards won by the club during this era, it is speculated that growth, development, the number of titles won, and club culture changed fundamentally during this period. The impact of the 1980s is still seen within and around the club to this day.
As early as the late 1990s, the club began singing 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers at club events and at games. It is a tradition that is still upheld to this day, and the club and its members are known widely as 'The Gamblers.
Recent History (2000-Present)
During the 2004/05 season, the club's events took place at The Crags bar near Pollock Halls of Residence. This continued until 2012.
In the 2011/12 season, the 1st XI finished in 8th place. Whilst in the 2012/13 season they finished 7th [8] In the British Universities & Colleges Sport the 1st XI competed in Scottish 1A, which they won in the 2011/12 season.[9]
In the British Universities & Colleges Sport the 2nd XI won Scottish 2A during the 2011/12 season and so won promotion for the first time to Scottish 1A since the leagues were re-organised in 2003. They finished the 2012/13 BUCS 1A season in 3rd place.[10]
2012/13 Season
The 2012/13 season was a pivotal season for the club. Then player-coach Graham Moodie stepped up to coach the 1XI full-time, becoming the club's Head of Performance. During his near decade spell at the club, he led the team to several Scottish Cup Finals, winning BUCS leagues, cups, and promotions, and professionalised the higher end of the club as one of the most dominating sides, not just within Scottish university hockey, but Scottish hockey as a whole. Moodie stepped down from his position in August 2021, and Scottish International Hamish Imrie has since taken up the role of Head of Performance.[11]
The club moved its bi-weekly events to Malones Bar (now McSorleys) on Forrest Road, Edinburgh, and is widely recognised as the modern home of the EUHC socials scene.
It was also in the 2012/13 season that saw the beginning of Edinburgh Fives and Exeter Fives. Members of the club welcomed a first year from the University of Exeter Hockey Club to Edinburgh in December 2012 as part of Edinburgh Fives. The return journey (Exeter Fives) was held the following February, so forth starting the long social tradition that is still upheld to this day. Exeter University Men's Hockey Club and Edinburgh University Men's Hockey Club maintain close ties to this day alongside Edinburgh Fives and Exeter Fives. Both clubs are the largest men's university hockey clubs in their respective home nations (Edinburgh in Scotland; Exeter in England), both play in green at home, both share the motto "Bleed Green", and both club names can be abbreviated to "EUMHC".
2019/20 Season
At the end of the 2019/20 season, then Director of Hockey at Edinburgh University, Eugene Connolly, who spent many years at the club developing coaches, umpires, and growing the size and image of the club, retired. Along with Dennis Hay, Connolly is often regarded as a mentor and father of hockey at Edinburgh University. The Director of Hockey position was removed and replaced with Head of Hockey Development, a role which has since been taken up by Scotland Women's over 55s coach, Janice Hudson-Windsor. The season ended prematurely in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic which cancelled annual events on and off the pitch such as Varsity, Exeter Fives, Hockey Ball, and Tour.
2020/21 Season
The 2020/21 Season was effectively cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Training in a limited capacity took place from September 2020 until December 2020. The Scottish and UK Government's second lockdown enforcement in January 2021 cancelled all forms of indoor and outdoor play until the end of March 2021. The club's social scene was rendered non-existent for the entire season, again cancelling major traditions such as Exeter Fives, Hockey Ball, and the club Tour that weren't hosted during the previous season either. The club maintained it's administrative and committee structure during the pandemic
2021/22 Season (The Golden Season)
As of the beginning of the 2021/22 season, the club bolstered a membership number of over 190, making it the largest men's university sports club in the United Kingdom. The 1XI, with the support of Edinburgh University's Performance Sports Programme, continued to dominate Scottish Hockey. With high finishes in both the Scottish Hockey Premiership and the Scottish Cup, the 1XI continued to be one of the only men's university hockey clubs in the UK to actively compete for EHL qualification.
Scottish Internationalist Hamish Imrie joined the club as the 1st XI's playercoach and Head of Performance.
In the first half of the season, the 1st XI developed and honed a new field hockey strategy known as 'The Lobster Theory', which draws the comparison of specific defensive and offensive plays, as well as player mentality, with that of the cooking and preparation of lobster for consumption. The expanded details of the strategy are a closely guarded secret within the club and were used sparingly throughout the season. Unconfirmed reports suggest that 'The Lobster Theory' has a 100% win efficiency, and is attributed to the many successes of the 1st XI during the 21/22 Season.
In 2021/22, the club secured several titles after a return to play due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In March 2022, the 2nd XI led by captain Jack Cahalin won BUCS Scotland 1 in their final BUCS game of the season against Glasgow University, 3–1, in which they needed to win their game to win the league.
The 3rd XI led by captain Ted Porter made history after winning the BUCS Scottish Conference Cup, 3-3 (3-2), against Edinburgh Napier in St Andrews. The 3rd XI was down 3-1 with 6 minutes remaining in the final quarter. Former captain Harry Heap lobbed a ball past the keeper with 4 minutes remaining. In the final minute of the game, a head height 'Brexit ball' was hit into the circle which was deflected by the club's Social Secretary, Sonny Erskine, into the roof of the net which ended the game at 3-3. The goal has been described by spectators from both sides as 'the greatest goal ever scored in a game of hockey'. The game was won by club Treasurer and incoming President, Alex Johnson, who saved the final penalty flick to win the Scottish Cup and BUCS Championship. A club quote surrounding the win goes, "Ewen Mackie had a dream, but Ben Pearson and Matt White made that dream come true", in reference to 3rd XI's former and current coaches.
Later on in March 2022, the 1st XI won the BUCS National Vase at BUCS Big Wednesday in the final against the University of Birmingham Hockey Club Men's 1st XI, with a full-time score of 1–0.[12] 1st XI Captain Robbie Croll scored the single goal of the match. It ended the 1st XI's silverware drought which had persisted since they won the BUCS Hockey Trophy during the 17/18 season.
On the same day, the 3rd XI won BUCS Scotland 2 in their final BUCS game of the season.
In April 2022, the 5th XI won East District 1. This was an incredible achievement for the team and the club as the team was almost completely new and restructured at the start of the season, and the team had been newly promoted to the league.
In February 2022, the 1st XI finished 2nd place in BUCS Premier North, behind the University of Nottingham Hockey Club Men's 2nd XI. Due to the BUCS Regulations on promotion within the Premier leagues, the 1st XI was entered into the BUCS Premier National Playoffs in order to contest promotion. BUCS Premier National, since the formation of BUCS in 2008, is the highest competitive league for men's hockey in the United Kingdom. There has never been a Scottish men's side qualify for BUCS Premier National. In April 2022, the 1st XI lost their first opportunity at promotion when they lost 2-2 (1-4) against the University of Oxford Men's 1st XI. Their final chance at promotion was left to their last playoff game against Oxford Brookes University Men's 1st XI at Peffermill. The 1st XI secured the victory, winning 4–1, and securing promotion to the top flight of BUCS Men's Hockey for the first time as a Scottish men's team.
At the end of April 2022, the 2nd XI (Bill's Angels) won the Scottish Men's Regional League, the highest competitive men's league in Scotland for non-first teams. Their title win came down to their final game of the season which was left in a tight tiebreaker between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
The 2nd XI and 3rd XI finished off the season with two club trebles when the 2nd XI won the Scottish Men's District Cup and the 3rd XI won the Scottish Men's Reserve Cup. These games ended the club's golden season with three confirmed promotions and eight titles for the club.
2nd XI Coach, Bill Robson, retired from his role as the most decorated coach in club history, with 5 trophies over the course of 5 seasons, 2 of which were disregarded due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
To date, the 2021/22 season is the most successful season the club, as a whole, has ever had.