St Mary's Hockey Club

St Mary’s Hockey Club began as the RSL Hockey Club, which was formed in 1969/70. The founding members included, Don Abbott, John Bucklar, Warren Kennedy, Ken Small, Erol Gibbert and Pauline Hollier, who were then members of the RSL Rugby Leagues club.

Originally, the RSL Hockey Club was formed, with only Men’s teams, for the purposes of maintaining rugby players fitness during the wet season. After one season the club was expanded to include women and junior teams. After cyclone Tracey in 1974, the men’s teams were disbanded for a number of years. However, between 1975 and 1978 the RSL Hockey Club continued to field women’s and junior teams.

In 1978 YMCA and RSL amalgamated to form an expanded Club with men’s and women’s teams in all grades.

From 1978 through to 1985 the Club went through a golden era with five men’s and women’s A topships, and a number of other senior and junior grade premerships.

Since 1988 the senior men’s teams have dominated in the Darwin Hockey Association competition, with men’s A premierships consecutively from 1987 through to 1991, and men’s B premierships in 1988 and consecutively from 1990 through to 1993. In 1991, the RSL Hockey Club changed its name to the St Mary’s Hockey Club incorporated, and became fully affilliated with the St Mary’s Football, Sporting and Social Club Incorporated.