The Northern Suburbs Hockey Club of Toowoomba Inc. was formed on 24th August 1972. It was only in December that same year that Norths first requested affiliation with the Toowoomba Hockey Association (THA). The vote was stalemated which required the THA President, Mr Trevor Elliot, to cast the deciding vote.
Once accepted, Norths registered the colours green, black and white and the ‘Devil’ was selected as the club’s emblem. Norths fielded ‘A’ and ‘B’ Grade teams in the 1973 season. The Club’s first games were played in Brisbane on Sunday 11 March 1973.
The minutes record indicates that the Club would be an all-male club ‘until such time as it is considered necessary to include a women’s team and then, only if 75% of all members agree upon the matter’. Happily, in 1977, the first Northern Suburbs Senior Women’s team was registered with THA. A primary school girls team played under our banner in 1976.
Our A1 Men’s team had to wait until 1977 to play in their first Grand Final. This was played at Queens Park, on the Godsall Street fields, against Newtown. The match was deadlocked with Newtown taking the win on penalty strokes, in extra time.
From the humble beginnings of A and B Grade teams in 1973, Norths now fields teams in the following: Minkey and Modifieds, Under 11 Boys and Girls, Under 13s Boys and Girls, J Boys and Girls, A4, A3, A2 and A1 Men and Women and Masters.
Northern Suburbs was based at the following venues for fundraising:
- Carlton Hotel (1972)
- Metropole Hotel (1973 – 1980)
- Empire Hotel (1980 – 1993)
- Toowoomba Sports Club (1993 – 2008)
- Meringandan Hotel (2009 – 2012)
- Club Glenvale (THA) (2012 – current)
- Toowoomba Sports Club (current)
Sincere thanks go to these establishments and numerous owners for their support over the years.
In 1992, due to the vision of Mr Jim Aspromourgos, Northern Suburbs Hockey Club, with Graham Mott as Club President as the time, was invited to become a partner in the Toowoomba Sports Club Inc. With the support of Mr Ian Knox the club became partners in this venture with Valleys RLFC, All Whites RLFC, Southern Suburbs RLFC and the Toowoomba Basketball Association. Life Members Mr Max Higgins and Mr Ken Kerr were both nominated as Directors of the Toowoomba Sports Club Inc.
Norths still maintain a close relationship with the Toowoomba Sports Club, holding a Director’s position and thank the Sports Club for their continued, generous support.
