The West District Men’s Hockey Association was founded in 2nd June 1900, a year prior to the Scottish Hockey Association. Outdoor hockey’s popularity was on the rise in the late 1800’s and clubs were beginning to form and compete against one another. The earliest clubs were mostly in Glasgow and Edinburgh and the Glasgow clubs got together to form the West District Hockey Association in 1900. After it’s foundation, the West promptly challenged the East District to a game, which took place in Edinburgh, in 1901. Inter district games were common during the early years but competitive league hockey was not. The Scottish Hockey Association frowned upon competitive leagues, although there does seem to have been unofficial leagues taking place.
A number of clubs have risen and fallen throughout the history of the West District. Clubs still playing today that were around back near the districts formation include:
It wasn’t until 1951 that the SHA permitted official leagues in the districts for clubs to compete for trophies. The first officially recognised competitive West District League took place in the 1954-55 season and was won by Western Hockey Club. At the time, the league was won based on win percentages. Teams would play any number of games, record the scores and a win percentage would be worked out.
13 teams competed in the first season
A south-west district was formed by the Scottish Hockey Association in 1927. This covered areas from Paisley, down the south side of the Clyde and into Ayrshire. Clubs that were involved that are still about today include GHK (formed as Cochrane Park in 1899), Greenock (formed as Clutha in 1921), and Anchor (formed in 1923).
The first competitive league in the South-West district took place in the 1957-58 season with 9 teams competing.
Babcock & Wilcox won the first season with a win percentage of 83.3%.
In the 1960-61 season, a second division started with clubs entering 2nd XI’s. This didn’t continue, initially, however by 1963, enough clubs were interested in competing that two divisions became a mainstay. The top team of division 2 would swap places with the bottom side from division 1 each season. The 1963-64 season also saw the introduction of a points system to decide who the champions were. Two points were awarded for a win, with one for a draw and zero for a loss. Goal difference was used to split those tied on points. This season was integral as it ensured each club played one another home and away. Clubs would still compete regularly against clubs from other districts, but games between those in the division would take preference.
Popularity in the game continued to grow throughout the 60’s and 70’s and by 1975 the South-West district had merged with the West District. Three divisions of 28 different clubs were competing across the district.
Two teams were promoted and relegated from each divisions. However, 1975 also saw the formation of Scottish Hockey’s National Leagues. 20 clubs from the West District applied and were accepted to join the league which had its first official season in the 1975-76 season.
By the mid 80’s, the top division was made up of nearly entirely 2nd XI’s that competed in the National League but the number of teams competing overall in the district had risen to nearly 50 teams from 26 different clubs.
Still under construction.
