On this day in 2023, Ipswich Cranes Hockey Club celebrated its 70th birthday, marking a significant milestone in its rich history of ups and downs.
The club was formed in 1953 by Geoff Corbin and a small committee after securing its first pitch located next to the Crane foundry in Nacton Road.
The early playing surface was made from industrial slag from the foundry, which was raked out and marked up for hockey.
For many years, Mr Corbin was the only player at Ipswich Cranes Hockey Club who worked at the Crane factory.
After a successful start as a mixed club, the ladies' side left Ipswich Cranes to join Christchurch Ladies HC and Castaways Ladies HC.
Later, the club moved to Copdock Cricket Club on Old London Road.
The Cranes were notable for being the last club to use a natural grass playing surface in the local hockey leagues during a period of rule changes.
In the 2003-04 season, a series of first-team players moved to Ipswich East Suffolk Hockey Club, leaving Cranes facing collapse without a viable playing squad.
However, the second-team and remaining first-team players consolidated into a single team and continued to work their way up the leagues.
During the 2004-05 season, the club joined the Northeast leagues for the first time, having previously played in the South leagues.
Cranes also enjoyed success as a veteran’s team, winning the Felixstowe-based tournament three times in a four-year period between 2003 and 2007.
Currently, the club has about 25 members aged between 15 and 65 years old, including long-standing members Andrew Elden, Andrew Hicks, Mark Campbell, and Steve Foster.
The team plays at Gainsborough Sports Centre and trains on Tuesday nights alongside Castaways Ladies Hockey Club.
They are sponsored by distribution company Cory Brothers Limited, which funded a new playing kit at the start of the last season, thanks to Jason Spring.
As the club prepared to begin the new winter season, they aimed for a top-four finish in this year’s campaign.
Members planned to celebrate the anniversary during a mixed match on September 2 2023.
[From the Ipswich Star of August 30, 2023]
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