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The Glebe District Hockey Club
On the 20th of December 1932 the St James Sports club was elevated to District status and subsequently the Glebe District Hockey club came in to existence, with Bill Bourke becoming the club’s first ever captain. The St James Sports Club which formed in 1929 with it’s teams playing in a yellow shirt with a blue vee and white shorts virtually provided all the members with all the players living in the Glebe area. Hockey was introduced to the St James Sports Club by Patrician Brother (Bro Mcarten Keegan) who had represented the Punjab in India. He captained coached the St James Sports club in 1931 in their inaugural season and played up until 1932, when he retired from playing. Brother McCarten continued as patron, providing yeoman service to the club until 1937, when he returned to India where he died on 12th of April 1941, aged 51 years. The Hockey Tradition in Glebe owes much to McCarten, who became something of a folk hero in the District. On Assuming District status the club adopted the traditional colour of Glebe’s sporting teams, maroon with a white vee. The colour of maroon was eledged to have been warn by the Glebe sporting teams due to an abattoir located in Blackwattle bay which used to send the water a maroon colour.

Since that time Jubilee Oval has been the Clubs home ground. The Railway Viaduct, which borders the oval, was built after the First World War 1, which ended in 1918. The railway link between White Bay and Darling Harbour was opened in 1922 and since August 1997 the Metro Light Rail which is the only operating light rail line in Sydney uses the old goods line to service inner city suburbs such as Pyrmont, Glebe, Annandale and Lilyfield.

Up until 1940 the turf wicket at Jubilee Oval was rolled by horse drawn rollers. The horses were fitted with special shoes to avoid damaging the pitch. Throughout the 1930’s the grass at Jubilee was kept under control by 50-60 sheep which were yarded under the viaduct at night.

Formative Years of the Club (1931 – 1945)
During these years Glebe firmly established itself as the most successful Club in Sydney hockey during the war years. In 1940 the first won the Markham and Walbow Cups for the first time. The second grade team of 1940 totally outclassed their opponents in 1940, scoring 74 goals for and 7 against to retain the pilgrim cup and emerge as premiers again in 1941. The thirds too became Premiers in 1940, but were defeated for the Kippax Cup by Kirribilli from the north side of the harbour. Glebe’s first grade winning premiership sides in 1941, 1942 and 1943 where a dominating force and club records show that it was rare for the first grade side to lose a game. For instance in 1943 the Glebe first grade side went through the season undefeated, scoring 80 goals for and 12 against.

During the late 40’s, the Glebe first Grade team ran on with 4 sets of brothers – Bill and Jack Taylor, Harry and Ken Wark, Fred and Bob Needham, Bill and Kevin Ryan. From the begging, family ties to the Glebe Club have always been a strong element. Its real strength is the loyalty and outstanding service of its members – an intricate social network has focused around the club activities. It became a matter of great pride for a local boy to pull on a maroon jersey. This was also a time when very few people owned cars, and the entertainment was usually sought in the local area. Records show that on a fine Saturday afternoon at Jubilee, close to 200 people would turn up support their local Glebe sporting team. The team spirit of the Glebe teams was inspiring and attracted many local residents, as well as parents, friends, relatives, neighbours and retired players.

Glebe Carries All Before it (1946 – 1970)
From 1946 District Hockey was introduced and at this time Glebe fielded four teams for the first time. The club enjoyed a great season in 1947, winning the first, second and fourth grade premierships. The youthful first grade side of 1947 with an average age of 22 was hailed as probably the strongest Glebe side ever fielded.

From 1946 – 1957, Glebe won no less than nine first grade premierships. A record, which still stands to this day. Glebe dominance in the Sydney competition continued in 1948, with the club wining the first, second and third grade competitions and the minor eleven (fourth grade) premier ship. 1948 also saw the introduction of the first ever Glebe under 16 side. Glebe consolidated its reputation as the most formidable opponent in Sydney hockey in the early post war years and in to fifties. The cornerstone of the clubs success has often been put down to its superior coaching methods, a very efficient administration and a harmonious club. Glebe was noted from the earliest days for their team spirit, determination and fierce will to win. Coaches first impressed on their young charges the importance of first mastering the basic fundamentals of the game and Glebe teams evolved a defensive pattern in their play that opponents found difficult to penetrate.

Year after year, Glebe maintained its high standard of hockey, winning the first grade premiership and the club championship every season from 1949 to 1953. In 1952, the Metropolitan Hockey Association amalgamated with the Northern Suburbs Hockey Association to form the Sydney Hockey Association. The great depth of talent in the Glebe Club was reflected in the number of its players gaining representative honours. Glebes winning sequence ended in 1954 when they were beaten by St. George in extra time. The annual report lamented that for the third time since 1940 the Glebe first grade side was beaten for premiership honours. It didn’t take the Glebe first grade team long to recapture the premiership pennant regaining it in 1956 when they defeated northern districts in the grand final.

The Glebe club was going through a transition period in 1957 with a number of younger players finding their feet and progressing there way in to the higher grades and lack of experienced and older heads was reflected in Glebes play and they failed to make the finals; but in typical glebe spirit, the Glebe first grade side came storming back in 1958 to regain the premiership losing only one of there 23 matches. During the 40’s, 50’s, & 60’s country carnivals were a popular event and well attended by Glebe teams of the past. Bathurst, Goulburn and Mittagong were popular and Glebe had a very successful carnival record. The players would often assemble at 5am outside the Glebe post office in the dark, deserted Glebe point Rd before heading off on their three-an-half-hour journey. On the return trip players would often congregate at various water – holes along the way the discuss the triumphs before returning to the Glebe post office around 10pm.

In 1958 the second grade report added that young inside forward Patrick Nilan with a bit more experience would go along way. In 1962 the Glebe first grade side played brilliant and inspired hockey completely dominating the competition ending St. Georges bid for their fourth successive first grade premiership. They remained undefeated in their 24 games, scoring 96 goals for and 22 against. Glebe again in 1963 made the competition a one-sided affair scoring 94 goals and only allowing 16 in losing only one game of their 20 matches. Club reports noted that in 1964 the first grade sided took along while to settle but their form improved considerably towards the end of the season and they retained the premiership.

1964 was also momentous year for the club as young Patrick Nilan became the first Club Member to represent Australia at an Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan. It seems the club reports from 1958 saw this coming 4 years earlier.

Glebe lost only two of their 18 mathes in 1966, and were perhaps a little unlucky to lose to St. George in the final. In 1967 and 1968 Glebe firsts were eliminated in the semi-final as strong new clubs started to emerge. UNSW and North Sydney were the respective premiers in 1967 and 1968. Although the glebe first missed out on premiership honours between 1966 to 1969, the second and third grade sides enjoyed great success and Glebe won the club championship every season from 1964 to 1968. Glebe seconds were the premiers for five straight years from 1964 to 1968. Equally impressive performances were produced by the thirds, who were premiers in 1966, 1967 & 1968.