Old Alex Hockey Club

Old Alex Hockey Club

Union	Hockey Ireland
Full name	Old Alexandra Hockey Club
Founded	1893
Ground	Alexandra College Milltown, Dublin Ireland
Coach	Ivan Ovington
Website	oldalexhc.ie
League	Women's Irish Hockey League

Old Alex Hockey Club is a women's field hockey club based at Alexandra College in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland. The club enters teams in the Women's Irish Hockey League, the Women's Irish Senior Cup and the Women's Irish Junior Cup. The club was founded in 1893 as Alexandra Hockey Club. It claims to be the oldest women's field hockey club in Ireland. In 1947 it was renamed Old Alexandra Hockey Club.

History

Early years

Old Alex was founded in 1893 as Alexandra Hockey Club. It claims to be the oldest women's field hockey club in Ireland. It was originally a field hockey and tennis club for past and present pupils of Alexandra College. The club played their first game on Saint Patrick's Day in 1893 against Merton Hockey Club. Initially the subscription fee was two shillings and six pence and only Alexandra College pupils were allowed to join. In 1894 the club become founder members of the Irish Ladies Hockey Union. Two club members, Miss Story and Miss Lyster, arranged the union's first meeting at Alexandra College. In 1947 the club was renamed Old Alexandra Hockey Club and in 1960 it became an open club, allowing players with no previous connection to the College to join.[1][2]

Irish Senior Cup

Old Alex won the Women's Irish Senior Cup for the first time in 1906.[2]

Season	Winners	Score	Runners up
1906	Alexandra [2]	4–3	Cork Ladies
1907	Alexandra [2]
1922	Alexandra [3]	5–0	Waterford
1924	Alexandra [4]	[note 1]	Knock
1925	Knock [5]	2–1	Alexandra
1934	Cork Ladies		Alexandra
1986	Portadown	1–0 [note 2]	Old Alexandra
1988	Old Alexandra		Pembroke Wanderers
1991	Old Alexandra		Muckross
1998	Pegasus	5–0	Old Alexandra
2006	Hermes[6][7]	1–0	Old Alexandra

Notes

1. After replay. First game finished 2–2 after extra time.
2. After replay. First game finished 1–1.

Women's Irish Hockey League

During the 2010s Old Alex regularly played in the Women's Irish Hockey League.[8][9][10] After several seasons outside the national league, Old Alex gained promotion in 2018 after defeating Dublin University 2–1 in a promotion/relegation playoff.[11][12][13]

Irish Junior Cup

Old Alex's second team enter the Women's Irish Junior Cup.

Season	Winners	Score	Runners up
1915	Alexandra II
1920	Alexandra II
1921	Alexandra II
1998	Pegasus II		Old Alexandra II
2005	Loreto II	1–0	Old Alexandra II
2007	Old Alexandra II [14]	2–0	Bray
2010	Randalstown II [15]	3–1	Old Alexandra II

Home grounds

Old Alex are based at Alexandra College. The club has hosted interprovincial and international games. On 2 March 1896 the club hosted the first ever women's international field hockey match when Ireland defeated England 2–0.[2][16]

Notable former players

Internationals

 Ireland

When the Ireland women's national field hockey team won the silver medal at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup, the squad included two former Old Alex players – Emily Beatty and Shirley McCay.

• Emily Beatty[9]
• Jeamie Deacon
• Nicky King
• Shirley McCay[8][10]

 United States

• Jessica Jecko [11]

Umpire

• Carol Metchette

First team coaches

Years
2018–	Ivan Ovington [11][17]
2017–2018	Nicky King
2016–2017	Tarrin Ramsden [18]
2015–2016	Nicky King
2013–2015	Didi Cole [10][19][20]
2012–2013	Miles Warren [9]
2010–2012	Miles Warren and Ivan Ovington [8]
1980s	David Judge[21][22][23]

Honours

• Women's Irish Senior Cup
  • Winners: 1906, 1907, 1922, 1924, 1988, 1991: 6
  • Runners Up: 1925, 1934, 1986, 1998, 2006 : 5
• Women's Irish Junior Cup
  • Winners: 1915, 1920, 1921, 2007: 4
  • Runners Up: 1998, 2005, 2010: 3

References

1. "Welcome to Old Alex Hockey Club!". oldalexhc.ie. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
2. "Alex celebrate 120th anniversary on St Patrick's Day". www.hookhockey.com. 16 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
3. "unnamed article". Belfast Newsletter. 17 February 1922. p. 2.
4. "unnamed article". Belfast Newsletter. 16 April 1924. p. 2.
5. "unnamed article". Belfast Newsletter. 12 March 1925. p. 2.
6. "Hermes v Old Alexandra - Womens Irish Senior Cup Hockey Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 26 March 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
7. "Hermes retain Women's Senior title". www.rte.ie. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
8. "Old Alex – Women's Division One preview". www.hookhockey.com. 24 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
9. "Old Alex – Women's Division One preview". www.hookhockey.com. 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
10. "Old Alex – Women's Leinster Division One". www.hookhockey.com. 19 September 2014. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
11. "Old Alex – Women's EY Hockey League". www.hookhockey.com. 27 September 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
12. "Alex grind out promotion to the EYHL at Trinity's expense". www.hookhockey.com. 6 May 2018. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
13. "DULHC Sunk by Alex in Relegation Playoff". www.universitytimes.ie. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
14. "For The Record". www.independent.ie. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
15. "McDonnell Secures Title". www.irishtimes.com. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
16. "Living for the days of the big finals Alexandra College". www.irishtimes.com. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
17. "Ovington signed up for Old Alex return". www.hookhockey.com. 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
18. "Old Alex – Women's Leinster Division 1 preview". www.hookhockey.com. 23 September 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
19. "Old Alex". www.hookhockey.com. 27 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
20. "Didi Cole takes on Old Alex coaching reins". www.hookhockey.com. 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
21. "Irish legend David Judge passes away at 79". www.hookhockey.com. 18 October 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
22. "David Judge". www.threerockrovershc.com. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
23. "Irish hockey legend David Judge dies aged 79". www.irishtimes.com. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2019.

External links

• Old Alex Hockey Club on Facebook
• Old Alex Hockey Club on Twitter