The Wombats Hockey Club has its roots in the very beginnings of the Hockey Albury Wodonga Association. The Wombats Hockey Club is an amalgamation of the clubs were that were The Young Anglicans Hockey Club (founded 1953), Wombats Hockey Club (founded 1979) and Royals (“Bushrats”) Hockey club (founded 1990). Frank Woodall through the Anglican Youth group decided to start a hockey team in the new me
n?s competition. Noel Waite and Jim Williams were playing football at Billson Park when they heard about it and decided to have a look. They enjoyed it so much that Jim eventually played over 500 games for YA’s and Noel, to this day, is still involved with the Wombats Hockey Club. YA’s enjoyed instant success winning the first 3 premierships, the first of which was played at the Albury Sports Ground, where they defeated 1/COD (Bandiana) 1-0. Interestingly Altona H.C. travelled from Melbourne to play a curtain raiser match against RAEME, a huge commitment in 1953. The first competition in Albury saw 4 teams compete. They were YA’s (who later amalgamated with Wombats), RAEME, 1/COD (Bandiana) and City
YA’s were successful in winning some 17 Division 1 premierships before merging and continue to enjoy this success with the Wombats winning a hat trick of Division 1 premierships during the 2000’s. The original Wombats Hockey Club was formed in 1979 with one B Grade men?s team. This team was successful and took out a premiership in its first couple of years but it must be said that the focus was the social side of the club. (On the serious side however the club also gave team blood donations twice a season.) In 1984 another team was added to the club in C Grade mens. The home ground for the club was Bilson Park for one year, then Alexandra Park ground 7 (one of the current soccer grounds). In 1990 the Association would only allow a club to form if it had two teams. The Royals Hockey Club was established at that time by Andrea Spittal and her family, with the club comprising a Division 4 Women and an U11 boys team. This club was based around Table Top and Gerogery but had a few Albury players as well (one of whom is still currently playing in Div 3 Women). Training was held at the back of the Gerogery Pub, or on the Table Top Tennis Courts under lights. The Club was successful from the start with the women’s team taking out the Div 4 final. In 1991 Royals went on to be incorporated, but could not use the name Royals (monarch issues), so the club changed its name to “Bushrats”. In 1992 the Bushrats merged with Wombats Hockey Club. This meant that the club had both men’s and women’s sides to go forward with. Today, the Wombats Hockey Club currently has 13 teams in the competition and is well represented in all facets of Hockey Albury Wodonga with players, coaches, managers and umpires at club, board and representative levels. Apart from having great coaches the club also offers all its members an opportunity to enjoy both the competitive side and social side of hockey.
