Not that many years ago Easter festivals were the much-anticipated climax to the hockey season. Many hundreds of teams, certainly well into four figures, would travel to play in one of over fifty festivals that took place around Britain. The most popular venues were seaside ones, from Bournemouth to Bridlington and Lowestoft to Llandudno. It was all very competitive good fun … well, usually!

Ealing Ladies’ Hockey Club at Ramsgate Easter Festival, 1950s		Bachannalians HC at Folkestone Festival, Easter 1966

The Folkestone Festival Fracas of 1969

From The Times newspaper, 7 April 1969

“Hockey festivals are supposed to give players some friendly games to wind up their season. But this year at Folkestone there have been rough ones, which culminated yesterday morning in the Clansmen, the Scottish side, and Real Club de Polo of Barcelona being sent off collectively nine minutes from time.

The first half had produced some splendid play with a superb goal by Segura for Barcelona the highlight, but the second half degenerated into a disgraceful exhibition. I am sorry to say that the Clansmen, who are nearly the Scottish national side, undoubtedly started it but the Spaniards were not slow to follow. Finally, Mr Eaves, an international umpire, had no alternative: he threw the whole lot off and well they deserved it.

It is always difficult at Folkestone to know which games to watch. The tendency is obviously to see the sides with the big names. But after yesterday morning’s effort I think in future I shall go to the four pitches round the corner, collectively known as Siberia and enjoy true festival spirit watching such sides as the Old Felstedians, Bandits and Royal Artillery.

The afternoon was devoted mainly to the Festival XI against the senior guest side, the Uhlenhorster Club of Hamburg. I have seldom seen so many good players gathered together on a perfect pitch produce such negative hockey. The Festival XI with five Englishmen, two Scots, two Irish and a brace of Germans were about as united as the United Nations and seemed to argue just about as much.

Uhlenshorster, for all their two west German internationals, were little better. Krause spent three parts of the game offside, neither wing could make any telling move and their attack was almost carried by Suhl. For the Festival XI, Harris of Cambridge University, whose selection was bitterly criticised, was as good as anyone and Hade of Ireland had a fine game at left half. Ten minutes from time Christensen on the left produced a dazzling run, centred, and Lawson shot home; the one flash of satisfying hockey in a dull game.

The day ended with two splendid games on adjoining pitches. Buccaneers had a struggle with Cambridge University. Svehlik soon scored for Cambridge but McNulty and Hennessy put Buccaneers in front. Ladykillers put the Ghosts in their place with goals by Land and Martin to one by Lawson.”