125 Years of the Men's Hockey Club
Established in 1901, the Men's Hockey Club is celebrating its 125th anniversary, marking more than a century of excellence on and off the pitch!
A brief history of the Men's Hockey Club
A founding member of the modern Scottish Hockey Association, the club quickly established itself as a force in the sport, producing five Scottish internationalists by 1902, and enjoying an unbeaten 1908/09 season that saw six players selected to represent Scotland.
The Club continued to thrive throughout the decades, dominating the Scottish Inter-Unviersity Championships during the 1930s and earning 16 Sports Union awards in the 1980s, including three 'Club of the Year' titles. The appointment of Head of Performance Graham Moodie in 2012 helped transform the club into one of the UK's leading university hockey programmes.
Recent Notable Achievements
In recent years, the club has enjoyed unprecedented success, including:
- BUCS National Vase Champions (2022 & 2025)
- BUCS North Premier Champions & promotion to BUCS Premier National (becoming the first Scottish men's university side to reach the top flight of BUCS Hockey)
- Scottish Regional League Champions (2XI)
- Scottish Cup Champions (the first men's university side to win the competition)
- 2026 Scottish Premiership Champions
- Qualification of the Euro Hockey League (EHL), becoming the first men's university side in Europe to qualify for the competition since Loughborough in 2007.
The club's impact continues to be felt at the highest level of the game, with current players earning international recognition and representing Scotland o the world stage, reflecting a legacy of excellence that has defined Edinburgh University Men's Hockey Club for 125 years.
"What makes Edinburgh Univeristy Men's Hockey Club special is its ability to combine high-performanbce sport with one of hte strongest club cultures anywhere in University Hockey. Whether it is competing for national titles, representing Scotland internationally, or boogying away in Mash House after a Wednesday fixture, the club has built an environment that generations of members continue to care deeply about. Over the past few years especially, the club has continued to grow both on and off the pitch, establish itself as one of the leading university hockey programmes in the UK, while still maintaining the traditions and community that make it unique."
- Ben Burton (Club Member 2024-present, Student Official of the Year 2024/25 & 2025/26)
"When I joined the club, I was only two years into playing recreational hockey; training was playing Wednesdays or Saturdays [...]. I knew I was never going to be a top player [...] but when othe things at university caused stress or gried, the club and the camaraderie was great for getting your life back on track. My experience at the club helped me restore my connection with the sport when I started umpiring and coaching for my younger daughter's school team later in life. It's a connection I maintain through folowing the club's progress on the Scottish Hockey website".
- Robert Martin (Club Member 1974-78)
Photograph of the Univeristy of Edinburgh Hockey Club's 1950-51 team