Our History

With the object of providing “gentle” exercise for members of “The Northern Star” Newspaper staff outside of work, staff member Mr Herb Everingham conceived the idea of forming a hockey club. After deciding to put his idea into action, on 30 June 1927 Herb called a meeting of staff members underneath a camphor laurel tree outside the office of “The Northern Star”, and from this meeting the Northern Star Hockey Club first saw the light of day.

The then Directors of “The Northern Star” were elected as Club Patrons with Mr A J Stokes being elected the Club’s first President; Mr F G Jackson Vice-President; and Mr E L O’Toole Secretary.

Mr F Weigall, being the only founding club member who had played hockey previously was accordingly appointed Coach and Captain of the Club’s first hockey team, with Mr Herb Everingham being elected as Vice-Captain.

Equipping the team was the first big obstacle, but this was speedily overcome by the generosity of the directors of the Northern-Star, whom after being acquainted with the aims of the Club provided the funds for the purchase of a complete set of hockey sticks.

Also equipped with a brand new uniform, which consisted of a white shirt with a black star on the pocket, the Club played its very first match against a Lismore. The Lismore team was coached by Mr W Purves, the founder of men’s hockey on the Far North Coast, and the result of the match was an easy win for Lismore.

Not discouraged by the result of its first match the Club continued to play a leading part in fostering hockey on the Far North Coast into the early 1930’s.

In 1932 the Club altered its uniform in favour of a shirt with black and white vertical bars. This later change was not overly popular and, after two further years, a black shirt with a white star was adopted in its place.

The 1934 season saw the Club win its first piece of silverware in the form of the HA Robertson Cup Minor Premiership. The Major Premiership however went to Tenbys Hockey Club. In 1935 the Club made amends for the previous season by taking out the Club’s first of many Major Premierships.

Notable advancement marked the 1939 season when the club extended its activities and entered a second team. This progressive move was made in order to provide a training ground for the younger players, and paved the way for the Club’s future expansion and success.

In 1952 the Club made the decision to change not just its uniform design, but also the uniform and club colours. The decision saw the black shirt with white star gave way to a navy blue shirt with a red and white V. The girls wore navy blue chinks with red and white bands around the bottom of the skirt, and a white star with a red “N” on the tunic. The navy blue, red and white remained the Club colours until 1962 when the decision was made to revert back to the traditional colours of black and white, which have remained as the club colours ever since.

The navy blue, red and white colours adopted by the Club through the period 1952 to 1962 are now the colours worn by the Far North Coast Men’s Hockey Association representative teams.

After going into a recess during the war period from 1941 to 1945, the Club was again able to field two men’s teams in the 1946 season.

In 1948 the club found it necessary to enter a third men’s team taking the total number of teams to 5.

In 1952 the Club celebrated its Silver Anniversary in style with the Men’s A Grade team winning the Major Premiership.

1953 saw an important milestone in the club’s history when the first junior team played under the club’s colours and in their initial season took out both the Minor and Major titles in the under 16 division.

It was three years later that the club picked up its next trophies in the form of the Minor and Major A Grade trophies.

Also in 1956 Northern Star had what was regarded by many as the best women’s team ever produced by the Club as they went on to easily win the Minor and Major Premierships in that year.

However in 1957 the Club, which had for a long time been riding high on the wave of success, struck one of its few “rough” patches. Only with the dedication and hard work of a “faithful few” was the Club able to avoid folding.

The trouble began early in 1957 when only one senior team was nominated due to several players who had been with the club for years deciding to retire, combined with lack of junior players coming through the ranks which made it hard to find replacements.

It was in 1957 that for the first time in the Club’s history there were no Northern Star teams in the top division of the competition.

Back into the top division in 1959 the Club was defeated in the semi-final. In 1961 the Club’s A Grade Men won their way through to the grand final but were defeated in this match by East Lismore.

Then out of the darkness began another of the “purple patches” for the Club, with the A Grade Men winning the Minor and Major Premierships for 3 successive years; 1962, 1963, and 1964 – with the 1963 effort of going through the competition undefeated being a highlight.

In the years between 1964 and 1976 the Club continued its “purple patch”, and enjoyed a measure of success unequalled by any other during the period with the A Grade Men winning the Minor Premiership on 6 occasions, the Major on 5, and the Preliminary title 3 times.

The Reserve Grade Men’s record is equally impressive during this period with 7 Minor, 7 Major and 3 Preliminary Premierships.

In addition, 1967 saw a return for our female players when the Club entered a Women’s team in the 4^th Division. This return was celebrated with a win in the 4^th Division. The Women continued their success into the following season by earning promotion into the 3^rd Division and taking out that title.

In 1978 the A Grade Men and the A Grade Women continued the Club’s spade of success with both teams winning Major Premierships. Reserve Grade Men also did well taking out all 3 trophies and B Grade Men won the Major Premiership.

1986 saw 4 Men’s teams in playing the finals, with only the A Grade Men going on to obtain the Major Premiership. This would be the Club’s last A Grade Men’s Major Premiership for 21 years.

A few lean years for the Club followed but with A Grade Women, Reserve Grade Men and C Grade Men being able to contribute several Premierships between them, the Club was able to maintain its hard fought legacy as a successful hockey club.

The A Grade Women in particular carried the mantle, going on to win Major Premierships in 1992, 1995, 1997 and Minor Premierships in 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1997.

In the 2002 the Club was awarded the Club Championship Trophy for the first time. This trophy is awarded to the Club who accumulated the most points across a number of factors, including: number of teams in the competition, average of total competition points received, points for supplying umpires and points for attending meetings.

In 2003 the men gained the C Grade Minor premiership with the Women’s B Grade team taking delight in winning the Minor and Major Premierships.

The 2004 Reserve Grade Men’s team, a mixture of youthful and experienced players, was rewarded for hard work and commitment by winning the Minor and Major Premiership.

The Men excelled in 2005 with the Club receiving the Men’s Club Championship trophy on the back of Reserve Grade winning the pre season competition and B Grade being crowned Minor Premiers. The Women’s C Grade team also won the minor premiership.

In 2006 the Club again received the Men’s Club Championship Trophy.

In 2007 the Club celebrated its 80^th anniversary in style with its A Grade Men breaking their 21 year premiership drought by taking out the Minor and Major Premierships following a 5-0 defeat over Ballina.

Following their Major Premiership in 2007 A Grade Men successfully went on to record 4 consecutive Major Premierships, a feat never before accomplished by the Club.

The Northern Star Men's A Grade team has thrived and recoreded its most successful era in the nistory of the club. Winning the Far North Coast Men's A Grade cometition in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017. 

2008 A Grade Premiers

Back row l to r: Mark Harris, James Harmon, Simon Wallace, Steve Knappman, Scott Dunn, Christopher McGuiness, Brad Hassett, Andrew McFadden, Mark Albertini, Matthew Currie, Matthew Harmon, Ashley Waring, John Vantaggiato (Manager)

Front row l to r: Mitchell Carter, Ryan McGuiness, Daryl Hughes, Adam Grill, Thomas Vantaggiato, Gordon Currie (Trainer), Aaron Head

In 2017 the Northern Star Hockey Club celebrated our 90th season in style. The A Grade Men winning the competition and the A Grade Women breaking a 22 year drought and winning the A Grade Womens competition, in what was a monumental match the girls went into extra time, drop offs down to 5 on 5 and then into a shoot-out where it all came down to the youngest member Zoe Cotterill who pulled out a clutch save to win the match for the team on the ninth attempt. A Win for the Ages!!!

The 2019 A Grade Premiers - Men and Women 

Back row l to r: Cameron Horne, Cheyne Appleton, Michael Lock, Bad Hughes, Mitchell Carter, Matt Frost, Jesse Hughes, Ryan McGuiness, James Harmon, Matt Harmon, Dave Harmon (Men's Manager), Bob Barrett ( Women's Coach), Shania McLean, Darryl Hughes.

Front row l to r: Taquira McGrath, Jasmine Ford, Tiana Clark, Annalyce Bodley, Zoe Cotterill, Thomas Vantaggiato, Leanne Albertini, Brad Mathers, Abby Vantaggiato, Adam Grill, Cassidy Chapman, Nikki Clark, Sam McCarthy, Sherilee Matthews, Mark Harris, Tracey Makings, Harry Smith, Kate Marshall, Amanda Harmon, Holly Spears.