Stockport Lacrosse Club

Stockport Lacrosse Club was founded in 1876 as a result of an exhibition tour organised by the "founding father of the modern game', William George Beers. Stockport Lacrosse Club is widely regarded as one of (if not the) oldest existing lacrosse club in the world. Montreal Lacrosse Club and Mohawk Lacrosse Club were founded earlier but have folded and re-formed in that period.[1]

The Senior Flags victory of 1896 was the start of the first of two conquering periods. For eight consecutive seasons from 1896 to 1903, Stockport swept aside all opposition to win the Flags, a record that has not been equalled since. In the same period the Iroquois Cup and First division Championship were both won six times. The club has to thank in particular two families, the Masons and Johnsons whose family members made up between them nine out of the total of twenty who played on the team during that period. The Mason family alone accounting for six of the players. A major trophy of the period remains in the possession of the club. This is the Flags Final Challenge Flag, which was won outright in 1898. The flag is a large, finely detailed embroidered Trophy depicting two lacrosse players dressed in the kit of the period stood on each side of a shield, with the winning clubs of the previous seasons scrolled on each side. The Challenge Flag is permanently on display at the club's Headquarters.

In 1883, the Mayor of Stockport, Henry Bell JP, donated the Cale Green ground to the town with financial support from the club. This ground was the home to Stockport Lacrosse Club but also to Stockport Cricket Club and Cheshire County Cricket Club. The layout of the ground has changed very little over the years, with the cricket pitch in front of the pavilion, two bowling greens and a separate pitch on a lower level which is the club's main pitch. The original pavilion is shown on the right, shows the original entrance in the middle at the front, and two windows above the door. The enclosure in front of the pavilion was for club members only, and a tiered grass banking led down to the pitch.

It was some fifty years before the next major change, which saw an extension being added to the western end of the building which in due course became the function room. There is a clear line along the roof tiles which shows the size of the extension. The extension also added a new area below ground and the changing rooms were moved below ground with the exit being next to the front door. The picture to the right shows the extension, and also the effects of some maintenance which has led to the removal of the two windows above the door and the central chimney from the roof.

Junior development is the key to the future of lacrosse. Throughout the decades, in particular since 1945 there has been a number of stalwarts of Junior Schemes who gave themselves the task of developing their own particular club's juniors and given the natural ageing process, the senior strength also.

Without the existence of this dedicated care during the 1950s and 60s many of the clubs which were able to continue after the War years could have faded through the lack of new players.

One such stalwart for the Stockport Club in 1950 was Les Grainger. Another such enthusiasts of that period was Ted Donnet for South Manchester and Wythenshawe. Les took on Stockport's juniors at the Annual General Meeting on Monday 12 September 1949 when he was appointed unanimously as Honorary Junior Secretary for the then forthcoming season 1949/50. The first junior games arranged by Les in his new role as Junior Secretary were... 22 October, Manchester Grammar School, 24 November, Ashton, 7 January, Cheadle.

There is no record of the results entered into the minute's books, however Leslie's memory provides a favourable record if not an actual result.

The position of Junior Scheme Secretary was retained by Les without a break through the '50s, '60s '70s and '80s until 1989, a total of forty continuous years. A remarkable record of achievement. Retirement was not on the agenda however, the all-encompassing position of recruitment, beginners and U12s team manager was undertaken until the early 2000s when he retired due to health reasons.

A quite remarkable fact is that virtually all the current Stockport players from the juniors upwards, through all the senior teams, including the veterans, have been trained within the L.R.G. Junior training scheme and bear all the skills and loyalty alike.

Another major achievement by Leslie was the creation of the Stockport Metros, an umbrella organisation for combinations of Clubs to be able take juniors on tours with specifically the US in mind, and has succeeded in doing so on 13 occasions since 1976, the last twelve of these being part of an annual exchange with Anne Arundel County Youth Lacrosse, Maryland, USA, which still continues.[2]

Mr. Grainger died in 2011.[3]

Stockport currently field three senior men's teams. Stockport's first team are one of the most successful and decorated lacrosse teams in the country.

In the 2009/10 season they went undefeated and won a total of eight trophies including:

• European Club Championship
• Northern Senior Flags
• Northern Premier League
• Referees Trophy
• Iroquois Cup
• Wilkinson Sword
• Bath 8's Tournament
• Stockport Easter 8's Tournament

Stockport has produced a great number of England internationals who have represented their nation in both World & European Championships and even in the Olympics, when Lacrosse was an exhibition sport at the 1908, 1928 and 1948. Stockport have won the North of England Men's Lacrosse Association Senior Flags 25 times.[4]

Stockport currently field a single senior women's team. The women's section was established in the early '90s and has grown into one of the biggest women's clubs in the north. They have players with junior and senior international honours for Wales, Scotland and England.

• 2017 Women's World Cup, Guildford, England
  • Chloe Chan
  • Jennifer Aiton
  • Chess Gray
  • Kat Barker
• 2015 Women's European Championships, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Chloe Chan
  • Jennifer Aiton
  • Chess Gray