Our Club history

Phoenix Hockey Club, which was established by players from the old Huntley and Palmers team in 1984, was based at the Prudential Ibis sports ground, and offered adult ladies, mens, and mixed hockey.

Ranelagh Hockey Club, based just a few minutes away at Rivermead Leisure Centre, was established in 1928, and ran ladies only hockey with a thriving junior (girls and boys) section.

The merger saw Phoenix & Ranelagh combine to offer both adults and juniors playing opportunities and to secure the club's future with youngsters coming through to the senior section rather than having to play elsewhere.

The merged Phoenix & Ranelagh Hockey Club moved to playing all their matches at Rivermead Leisure Centre after the use of grass pitches was no longer allowed within league hockey. Post match teas continued at the Prudential Ibis sports ground.

This arrangement stayed in place until season 2013/14 home matches moved to Reading University Sports Park (with post match teas staying at Prudential IBIS Club).

The following season 2014/15 we moved totally to Reading University which had a new sand dressed astro (laid in summer 2015) and a new sports pavilion with top class changing facilities. We also moved to the Reading University 'Park Eat' site for our post match hospitality - enabling us to have one location for all our hockey.

The club retained strong links with the Ibis until it was sold by Prudential M&G in 2020, and although the sports ground wasn't used for hockey matches or hospitality, many Club socials continued to be held there!

Phoenix Reading HC
Our club was called Phoenix & Ranelagh Hockey Club from the merger in 1998 until June 2022. The club name was changed to Phoenix Reading Hockey Club at our 2022 AGM to help attract new players.

Having a club brand that incorporates the name of the town we play in, enables us to be more recognisable to the public, and gives us better visibility to our Reading University student population. We believe it also provides improved opportunities for sponsorship & marketing partnerships with local companies.