Ulster Senior League (Men's Hockey)

The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association.

Formation

At a Special General Meeting of the Union held on 15 October 1897 in the Royal Avenue Hotel, Belfast, the clubs present resolved to form the Ulster Senior League. [Belfast Newsletter 16/10/1897 Page 3]

It was reported that Cliftonville, North Staffordshire Regiment, King's Own Liverpool Regiment, Ulster, North Down, Ards, Royal Hospital and Antrim would participate in the new League. [Belfast Newsletter 19/10/1897 Page 3]

Current composition of the Senior League

In 2007-08, 30 clubs will compete in the Ulster Senior League. [cite web|url=http://www.ulsterhockey.com/|title="Current league tables"|accessdate=2007-07-01]

1969 reorganisation

At the end of the 1968-69 season the Senior League expanded from eight to ten teams and was renamed as "Senior League Section 1". The remaining six Qualifying League 'A' were joined by the top four teams from Qualifying 'B' to form a ten team league known as "Senior League Section 2". All remaining club first teams were entered in the "Intermediate League". In season 1975-76 Section 2 was increased to 12 teams.

Membership of the two Senior League Sections at the start of the 1969-70 season was as follows

Key:

* 1 - 2000-01 Bangor won Section 2 but lost a Promotion Playoff
* 2 - 1997-98 South Antrim were runners-up and gained promotion when Holywood '87 folded.
* 3 - 1996-97 Promotion and relegation suspended.
* 4 - 1978-79 Belfast YMCA won League after 3-1 victory in Test Match against Instonians.
* 5 - 1977-78 Promotion and relegation between Section 1 and 2 suspended because of Ireland's participation in the Hockey World Cup in Argentina.
* 6 - 1969-70 Promotion and relegation between Section 1 and 2 suspended.

1968-69 to 1957-58

KEY
* 1 - 1967-68 Old Bleach(Qual. A) folded after this season. As a result East Antrim were not relegated. In addition Holywood(Int. A) folded.
* 2 - 1965-66 Lissara renamed as Crossgar at the end of this season.
* 3 - 1964-65 Lisnagarvey won League after Test Match with Cliftonville
* 4 - 1964-65 Lisburn Old Boys renamed as Friends School Old Boys at the end of this season.
* 5 - 1963-64 Montalto withdrew from League during season. No relegation from Qualifying B.

1956-57 to formation

* 1956-57
* 1955-56 Belfast YMCA (Won Test Match against Parkview)
* 1954-55 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match against Parkview)
* 1953-54 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match against Down)
* 1952-53 Lisnagarvey
* 1951-52 Lisnagarvey
* 1950-51 Lisnagarvey
* 1949-50 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match 1-0 v Parkview) [Northern Whig 24/04/1950 Page 5]
* 1948-49 Parkview (Won Test Match 2-1 after extra time v Antrim) [Northern Whig 21/04/1949 Page 2]
* 1947-48
* 1946-47
* 1945-46
* 1944-45 Lisnagarvey
* 1943-44
* 1942-43
* 1941-42
* 1940-41
* 1939-40
* 1938-39 Lisnagarvey [Belfast Newsletter 25/04/1939 Page 3]
* 1937-38 Lisnagarvey [Northern Whig 21/04/1938 Page 10]
* 1936-37 North Down [Belfast Newsletter 29/03/1937 Page 9]
* 1935-36 North Down [Belfast Newsletter 13/04/1936 Page 4]
* 1934-35 North Down [Belfast Newsletter 09/04/1935 Page 2]
* 1933-34 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match 3-1 v North Down) [Belfast Newsletter 30/04/1934 Page 3] ("2 section Senior League")
* 1932-33 North Down [Belfast Newsletter 21/04/1933 Page 13]
* 1931-32 North Down [Belfast Newsletter 18/04/1932 Page 10]
* 1930-31 Cliftonville [Northern Whig 08/04/1931 Page 3]
* 1929-30 Antrim [Belfast Newsletter 24/04/1930 Page 12]
* 1928-29 Cliftonville [Belfast Newsletter 23/04/1929 Page 12]
* 1927-28 Antrim [Belfast Newsletter 23/04/1928 Page 2]
* 1926-27 Antrim [Belfast Newsletter 29/04/1927 Page 5]
* 1925-26 Banbridge (Won Test Match 3-2 v Lisnagarvey) [Belfast Newsletter 12/05/1926 Page 2]
* 1924-25 Lisnagarvey
* 1923-24 East Antrim (Won Test Match 4-3 v Banbridge) [Belfast Newsletter 02/05/1924 Page 2]
* 1922-23
* 1921-22
* 1920-21 Antrim (Won Test Match 3-1 v Banbridge) [Belfast Newsletter 14/05/1921 Page 2]
* 1919-20
* 1918-19 "Not Played"
* 1917-18 "Not Played"
* 1916-17 "Not Played"
* 1915-16 "Not Played"
* 1914-15 "Not Played"
* 1913-14 Banbridge
* 1912-13 Banbridge
* 1911-12 Queen's University
* 1910-11 Banbridge
* 1909-10 Banbridge (after a Test Match)
* 1908-09 Banbridge (after a Test Match)
* 1907-08 Antrim
* 1906-07 Cliftonville (after a Test Match)
* 1905-06 Malone
* 1904-05 Antrim (after a Test Match)
* 1903-04 Banbridge
* 1902-03 Antrim [Belfast Newsletter 28/04/1903 Page 3]
* 1901-02 Banbridge [Belfast Newsletter 28/04/1902 Page 5]
* 1900-01 Antrim [Belfast Newsletter 19/04/1901 Page 3]
* 1899-00
* 1898-99
* 1897-98 Antrim [Belfast Newsletter 30/03/1898 Page 3]

ources

Information gathered from Belfast Newsletter and Ireland Saturday Night