History

1964 and all that – an old fxxt remembers

RAF Swanton Morley and the Isle of Man are a long way from each other but Swanton Morley was where I learned to play hockey whilst doing my National Service. When I came home in 1961, the only man I knew who played hockey was Jim Heatherley who invited me to join GEC HC.

Jim had been to the IOM Festival back in 1955 and was very keen to go again and we managed to get together a small party for the 1963 Festival. Players came from GEC Coventry and GEC Witton (which was in Birmingham). We played as the PHONEYS.

Four fixed match times starting about 9.30am and back to the hotel for lunch – a much more rigid structure than today. Free transport in the shape of some ancient Douglas Corporation double deckers, all games on grass at K. George 5th or Pulrose, everywhere we went we sang – so did the other clubs; and that’s how we became ZULUS. One of our members, a Rhodesian, (Zimbabwe now) taught us a Boer War marching song which became very popular. So popular that in 1964 we went back as ZULUS. This was the “Ikemezumba , hold him down you Zulu warriors” song that we don’t use these days.

I would never have believed then that in 2003 we would be making the 40th consecutive trip.

The Festival was different; and in the first couple of years our fairly inexperienced side lost pretty frequently. Serious efforts were made to recruit better players and for some years there was even a Committee vetting process – potential new members filled in an application form and had to be nominated for membership. Some were not accepted! It all sounds very formal now but it did raise the standards of hockey and meant that ZULU teams could and did compete with the best on the Island. Cliftonville  became an annual battle and in one memorable game we became the first team to beat them on the Island for seven years. Many of us who played in that game reckoned it was probably the best ever.

ZULU Ladies also shone and for at least 2 years were the select team who played the pick of the visitors. The same strict criteria applied. So did standards of dress and I seem to remember that ladies skirts had to be no more than 2 inches above the knee, measured when kneeling! Petty rules? Maybe; but ZULU teams always looked smart and that was part of our reputation.

Today’s players will view travel arrangements with a smile too. In 1964 the M6 started at Stafford. No Spaghetti Junction. No coaches either, that came later. Certainly no aeroplanes – the scheduled service from Birmingham relied on old Dakotas (you know – the planes Air Atlantique used at Baginton- even in 1964 they were pretty ancient). To get to the island it was a car journey to Liverpool and the afternoon boat – on one of the old IOM ships two at least of which had seen service at Dunkirk. Cars were parked at a local garage and you hoped you had 4 wheels and a car when we got back. Hope too that your driver didn’t fall asleep in the fast lane as one did.

But it was fun too; I’ve never forgotten the look on 8 ZULU faces, 4 in a car going one way down a dual carriageway in Liverpool, 4 in a car going the other way. All 8 totally confident they were heading in the right direction for the IOM boat!

As the trip gained popularity so the party got bigger and the travel changed – Harry Shaw’s coaches for many years. The usually reliable Harry fouled up only once. As 80 odd ZULUS assembled at various points early in the morning Harry had booked the coaches for the evening. We made the boat by the skin of our teeth. Now it’s easy – hop a plane from Birmingham – almost a day trip really.

Memories? Yes, hundreds.

How about drinking the hotel dry on the first night? And then doing it again the next night. We’d changed hotels that year and the hotelier said “I’ve never had a hockey party before.” As we left 4 days and a thousand gallons of ale later he said “Are you coming back again next year; please?”

Then there was what I reckoned the most amazing goal line save ever. The late lamented Phil Cory with an over-arm smash that rocketed a short corner back past the shooter at twice the speed of the original shot.

Peter Harris, a dominant goalkeeper who twice played for the pick of the English sides against the pick of the Irish and had his nearside post splintered by one of the fiercest shots I’ve ever seen – remember their kit was pretty basic – pads, kickers and a box only in those days. Peter was a fearless goalkeeper but admitted afterwards that that shot frightened him. And me – and I was sitting in the stand.

Two minute Tom. Tom McAdams umpiring a battle against an Indian side whose umpire was not entirely neutral, but who was timing the second half. After 37 minutes and totally ignoring Tom’s signals, Tom blew for time and was last seen surrounded by an excited opposition who had just lost 3-2 and weren’t happy bunnies.

The pillock from somewhere up north who, single handed thought he could out sing about 50 ZULUS in the bar of the boat – and we stuffed his team at hockey a couple of days later too.

The year of the boat strike when the Committee worked overtime to charter a plane which we filled with ZULUS.

Barry Littlewood – yes the one who runs the motor museum. Barry was a very good occasional goalkeeper. Despairingly he kicked at a shot going just inside his left post – and cleared the back line of his right hand post for a corner.

Dave Last playing on the left wing and scoring (twice I think). His dance of delight was something to behold.

JCB calling for seconds at dinner and being presented with the biggest bowl of rice pudding ever – the chef used it for cooking – and scoffing the lot.

A Jim Heatherley hat-trick. One goal was scored between his legs with his back to goal.

The Committee Room. Older members who experienced it could never forget it. In early days when the bar shut around midnight we would take crates of ale up to the largest bedroom and carry on into the small hours. The jokes were hilarious and non-stop. I cleared up after one Festival. The smell was indescribable.

Biggles Bandits who visited our bar and pulled off the funniest IOM stunt I can remember – details available for anyone interested.

The look on the faces of the inhabitants of Ramsey the year our touring coach party exited the local hostelry back to the ‘bus – on their knees to the tune “High ho, High ho……”

And the privilege? The privilege of playing with some great players – too many to name – some still playing, but a little more slowly these days. The privilege of umpiring with 2 of the best umpires I have known; the legendary Jimmy Connor, who had a full FIH badge, and our own Neil Gardener.

And behind the scenes? Every year a small band of volunteers we call a Committee works hard to collect fees, book tickets and hotels, organise fund raising events and so on. It’s not until you serve as a committee member that you realise just how much is involved. For 40 trips innumerable people have done just that; to each and every one we all owe a big “Thank you” for the pleasure, the friendships, the fun we have all enjoyed by being a ZULU.

I’ve said this before but it’s worth repeating. My last trip was 3 years ago. I was talking to a player from another club who said “I hope the ZULUS never stop coming – you ARE the IOM.” I think that’s a reputation to be proud of.

Tony Cousins