International Hockey at Saffrons

50 years ago on this day England Hockey played Wales at the Saffs with a '3pm bully off'. Can you imagine it? Grass International Hockey.....

Patrons of the Club paid £1.00 for entry to a packed ground.

It wasn't the first time the Club hosted an international, 13 years earlier we hosted England who played France and England won 2-0.

The only other ground to host an International was at Hove in 1961 when England played the Netherlands.

In 1997, the grass pitch was dug up and an Astro was installed with floodlights. In 1998, the Hockey Association ruled that all league hockey had to be played on Astro and so brought an end to grass hockey although it continued in a social way at Clubs like Buxted HC, which continued to play friendly grass games until 8 years ago.

On this day in 1970, England beat Wales 2-0