Development of the club

Unlike Astro pitches which enable matches at various times across the day, in the 1970’s and 1980’s it was usual for matches to be played early afternoon normally starting at 2.15pm (or 2.45pm if still BST). This tended to cause problems when there were two Ladies’ teams playing at home on the same day and therefore the Club sought another pitch.
In 1982 agreement was reached with Crondall Parish Council for the use of the outfield of the cricket pitch. Again, this required volunteer support to mark out the pitch once the requisite line marking equipment had been acquired. So, at this time considerable effort was required to mark out and set up the goals on pitches a few miles apart on the morning ahead of matches and then take down the goals afterwards.
With the loss of the pitch at QE Barracks, Ewshot started to use grass pitches in Aldershot owned by the Army in the 1987/1988 season and from 1990 were able to play on the (one) Astro turf pitch in Princes Avenue, being the only civilian club at the time to make use of this new facility.

Ewshot HC match at Princes Avenue in 1991

Unfortunately, Aldershot Garrison decided no further civilian use was going to be allowed on this pitch after the end of the 1992/93 season. However, a new Astroturf pitch was being constructed at RAF Odiham which was used for a number of years. The Club also played on pitches at Oak Farm Community School, Farnborough Sixth Form College and Ash Manor School in Aldershot.
Although a small club Ewshot enjoyed a reasonable amount of success in the leagues with the Men's team finishing runners up in Hampshire Division 3 in the 1997/98 season and being promoted to Division 2. The following season the Men were again runners up and went up to Division 1.

Ewshot HC Ladies Team 2001

The Ladies’ 1st team also had successes with two promotions in three seasons - in the 2000/01 season as runners up in Hampshire Division 5 and in 2002/03 as runners up in Hampshire Division 4. During this time the Club’s main coach was ex-Welsh international Lorraine Sharpe who remained with Ewshot until 2003.

Ewshot HC Men’s Team 2006

For over 20 years Ewshot held annual Intraclub mixed tournaments. These were very popular, involved members of all ages across the club and were keenly competitive.

Ewshot HC Intraclub Tournament Winners 1986

In 2001 after some research and liaison with schools, a ‘Colts’ section’ was set-up for the 2001/02 season having secured some Lottery funding support. Links with schools, particularly Greenfields School in Hartley Wintney, were facilitated through having three players who taught there. Colts’ training and coaching took place at Lord Wandsworth College.
The Colts’ section continued to grow with teams at U12, U14 and U16 representing the Club. Notable performances at the time included a 9-1 win against Camberley by the U14 team. By January 2002 there were more than 40 Juniors regularly training every week with some players progressing to Hampshire County coaching sessions. Such success was reflected in sponsorship being obtained from Redfields Garden Centre in Church Crookham for the Junior section. The Club continued to develop its teams particularly the Juniors up to the merger with Fleet in 2007.
Ewshot was always a very welcoming and social club with the village hall hosting Christmas parties as well as cabarets and shows performed by members; there were also a number of tours particularly to the Isle of Wight and club member organised ski trips!

Ewshot HC enjoying themselves at the Isle of Wight Mixed Festival

Fleet and Ewshot Hockey Club

2025/26 Training Schedule