Mercian House in 1988, adorned with bunting and Union ‘Jack’ flag following the GB men winning the gold medal at the Seoul Olympic Games. Hundreds of passing motorists sounded their horns in appreciation.

The Curator and founder of The Hockey Museum (THM) Mike Smith was also the founder of the well-known hockey equipment supplier Mercian, back in 1974. The business moved to Woking in 1978 and its home and premises in Maybury Road became a well-known hockey landmark, both for players looking for equipment and the millions that passed by on the train.

Mercian’s home at 151-152 Maybury Road also became the spiritual home/birthplace of THM thanks to Mike’s deep interest in the history and heritage of our sport. He collected anything to do with hockey and with a warehouse at the rear of the premises he was able to store things! He set up a library and archive which many students of hockey visited long before THM became a reality in its own home in 2011, also in Woking.

Mercian prospered and moved to larger premises a year or so ago, meaning that Mercian House became redundant. Although, after 42 years of faithful service to hockey the building and site are to be redeveloped, a link will continue as the development is to retain the name of Mercian House. The cast nameplate that has adorned it for the past four decades will continue a link with our sport.