Club History


Gordonians Hockey Club was formed in 1911 to provide former pupils of Robert Gordon's College with the opportunity to continue playing hockey after their school years and to maintain contact with each other. Although it was initially an exclusive club for former pupils which were men only until the 1990's, we now have an open membership policy as well as lady and youth members. We continue to enjoy a strong relationship with the school and benefit from the use of RGC's excellent hockey facilities at Countesswells where there are two astroturf pitches - one water-based and one sand-dressed.

Gordonians played in friendly matches until the North District Leagues were formed in the 1960’s. The 1st XI was then invited to join the newly formed National Leagues in 1976, and was placed in Division 3. They won Division 3 in their third season, won Division 2 the following season, and held their place in Division 1 of the National Leagues from 1980/81 until 2008/09 - a record 29 seasons. Since then our Men's 1sts have had spells in Division 2 and Division 1. They will compete in National League 2 in 2021/22.

Although we have not yet won the NL1 title, our 1st XI came within one point of the Scottish Championship in 1996 and were runners-up again in 1998. We have, however, had considerable success in cup competitions having won the Scottish Cup 4 times and as a result represented Scotland in the European Cup Winners Cup in Poznan (1994), The Hague (1996), Rome (1998), and Eindhoven (2002). We also took part in the inaugural European Cup Winners Cup in Barcelona in 1990, having finished as runners up in the 1989 Scottish Cup to the league champions that year.

The Men's 2nd XI have won the National Scottish Districts Cup for 2nd X1 teams 8 times, only bettered by one other club. The 2nd XI joined the Scottish Regional League North in 2000 when the regional leagues were formed and won it 10 times until it ended in 2014 . Our 2nd XI then returned to North District Division One which they have won a total of 16 times since 1977.

The formation of the regional leagues allowed the 3rd XI the opportunity to dominate North District League One from 2000, winning it 7 times. The 3rd XI have also won the National Scottish Reserve Cup 6 times. The Men's section also run a 4th team for experienced players alongside promising schoolboys to give them their first taste of senior hockey.

In May 2001, Gordonians merged with Merlins Ladies Hockey Club to form a combined club which can provide hockey to both male and female former pupils of RGC and open members . Merlins Gordonians won the Scottish Districts Cup in 2005 and elected to move up from the North District League to the National League 3 in 2005/6. They won NL3 in only their second season in 2007 and finished a very creditable 4th in NL2 in 2008, but due to the loss of some key players to universities elsewhere were relegated back to NL3 in 2009. They became NL3 Champions for the second time in 2010 and in 2018/19 they won NL2 to be promoted to Division One for the first time in 2019/20 and will still be there for season 2021/22.. Our Ladies Section also field a 2nd and 3rd team in the North District Leagues.

The Club has been running a very successful Youth Coaching programme for over 25 years with around 150 boys and girls attending weekly coaching sessions, and competing in national competitions at U-14, U-16 and U-18 level. We are extremely grateful to a large group of current and former members who have undergone coach training and CP courses so they can provide coaching to our Youth members each week. The club is also fortunate to have the support of U18 and U16 members who choose to volunteer as assistant coaches under the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. We have taken our U-18 boys on tour to Holland 12 times since 2004 and many of these boys have gone on to play in our National League teams and some for Scotland. In one year a club record of 9 were selected for Scotland training squads across three age levels.