Club History

Westside Wolves was established in 1987. Based at Cresswell Park in Swanbourne, Wolves is one of WA's largest hockey clubs. Fielding senior in mens and women's teams from First Grade to Veterans. The club has an extensive junior program, plus Minkey.

History

Westside Wolves was formed with the merger of the Grads Womens, Cricketers, Old Scotch Collegians and Christ Church Hockey Clubs. 

Westside Wolves was the product of a conversation between Graeme Walter, President of Cricketers, and Neil McKerracher, President of Claremont Collegians. Cricketers was the strongest men's club in Australia. Notable players included Australian captains Ric Charlesworth and Craig Davies and numerous State and Australian players such as Bob Andrew, Graham Walter and Peter Haselhurst.

Claremont Collegians was only three years old, formed from long established WA hockey clubs - Old Scotch Collegians, Christ Church and Mosman Park Hockey Clubs. Collegians strength was in organisation and administration, with a secure financial basis.

Both Cricketers and Claremont Collegians had women's teams, but they weren't strong, which lead to approaching Grads, as Grads boasted many proficient players and Australian representatives. Discussions took place in late 1986 between the committees of the respective clubs. In the heady days of the 80's corporate mergers, there was an optimistic view about the proposal, despite a merger meaning 150 years of various clubs' histories would be lost.

In early 1987, a members meeting of the respective clubs was held at Creswell Park, Swanbourne. The vote to proceed with a merger and formation of a new club was carried unanimously. An initial committee was put together with Neil McKerracher appointed President of the new body, named Westside Wolves. 

The Beginning

In its first year, Westside Wolves fielded fifty-five teams plus hundreds of Minkey players. Since 1987, it has won numerous premierships, including the Classic League and First Division for men and women respectively - the best club competition in the world.

Wolves achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the Byrne and Judge Trophy, and the Kyle Rutter Trophy in the same year - for the greatest success in both senior and junior male ranks. Forty-eight teams are now fielded each weekend under a sound and sophisticated structure.

Importantly Wolves have developed a massive juniors base, which is fed by a Minkey competition where thousands of juniors have participated, and been fed into Westside Wolves and other Western Suburbs clubs. Every Saturday morning, over 600 young Minkey players have been common in the club's first twelve years of operation.

The current generation of juniors knows only of Wolves. Cricketers, Grads and the Old Boys clubs are something occasionally mentioned in nostalgic reminiscing by seniors. Every hockey club has its ups and downs, but the strengths of Wolves lies in the development of home grown product, from juniors onwards. While players from other clubs have been attracted to play with Wolves, our belief is ongoing club success can only be guaranteed by developing from within.