Roller Skating Hockey
Roller Hockey became a feature at the rink with staff and skaters from the rink playing each other, then forming a club. The men’s team played other rinks’ teams home and away and this eventually developed into a league with standard rules. The teams were five a side (although six and seven a side were also played) with one goalkeeper and played for 15 minutes each half with a break in the middle. These games were played during skating sessions, so they had to take place within the available time. The goals were simply placed on the floor for the match and removed afterwards (like ice hockey today).Goal mouth incidents happened frequently with the goals being pushed or collapsed and referees had a hard time deciding on the scoring of goals. Local rivalries spilled over into roller hockey once Falkirk roller rink was established and their roller hockey team played the Stirling team. At the start of 1910, the Olympia Hockey Club had 12 playing members
At the first carnival on 15th December 1909, a match between the rinks of Perth and Stirling took place for a silver cup. Perth won 2 goals to 1.
On the 12th January 1910, the Olympia team played the Bannockburn rink. Stirling won 6 – 1, with a team of R. S. Henderson in goal, H. G. Miller (manager of rink, 2 goals) as back and H. Brodie (2 goals), G. Reyburn (2 goals) and Poingdestre as forwards. They also won the return match the following Saturday 5-2. H. Brodie (3 goals), H.G. Miller (1 goal), G Reyburn (1 goal) were the scorers. The normal skating was extended by 30 minutes to compensate for the hockey match.
The Sports night on 17th February 1910 also featured a hockey match, against the Falkirk Olympia team. The score was Stirling 6 v Falkirk 0. Falkirk did not have a full team out and required local men to complete the numbers. They also played with steel skates, while Stirling used skates with fibre wheels, much better suited to the wooden floor.
The 23rd February 1910 Carnival again featured a hockey match against Bannockburn with the 23rd March Carnival featuring a Falkirk match.
By 30th March 1910, the hockey club team had played 20 matches since its inception, 15 at home and 5 away, 15 games won, 2 lost and 3 drawn, with 81 goals scored against 34 conceded, according to the hockey club secretary. This form was continued to the end of the season.
At the first carnival on 15th December 1909, a match between the rinks of Perth and Stirling took place for a silver cup. Perth won 2 goals to 1.
On the 12th January 1910, the Olympia team played the Bannockburn rink. Stirling won 6 – 1, with a team of R. S. Henderson in goal, H. G. Miller (manager of rink, 2 goals) as back and H. Brodie (2 goals), G. Reyburn (2 goals) and Poingdestre as forwards. They also won the return match the following Saturday 5-2. H. Brodie (3 goals), H.G. Miller (1 goal), G Reyburn (1 goal) were the scorers. The normal skating was extended by 30 minutes to compensate for the hockey match.
The Sports night on 17th February 1910 also featured a hockey match, against the Falkirk Olympia team. The score was Stirling 6 v Falkirk 0. Falkirk did not have a full team out and required local men to complete the numbers. They also played with steel skates, while Stirling used skates with fibre wheels, much better suited to the wooden floor.
The 23rd February 1910 Carnival again featured a hockey match against Bannockburn with the 23rd March Carnival featuring a Falkirk match.
By 30th March 1910, the hockey club team had played 20 matches since its inception, 15 at home and 5 away, 15 games won, 2 lost and 3 drawn, with 81 goals scored against 34 conceded, according to the hockey club secretary. This form was continued to the end of the season.
| Date | Rink | Opponents | Result | Score |
| 6th April 1910 | Falkirk Opympia | Falkirk | Won | 2 v 1 |
| 9th April 1910 | Stirling Olympia | 'Nomads' * | Won | 6 v 4 |
| 14th April 1910 | Stirling Olympia | Falkirk | Won | 7 v 1 |
| 17th April 1910 | Perth Olympia | Perth | Won | 3 v 0 |
| 20th April 1910 | Summerton Road, Govan | Coatbridge Central ** | Draw | 0 v 0 |
* Stirling v Cowdenbeath for 9th April did not take place because they could not send a team, so a scratch team was raised after Falkirk and Larbert could not supply opposition either.
** Hockey match played under the rules of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Roller Hockey Association.
On 14th May 1910, the final night of the first season, a hockey match between the club team and staff ended in a 3 v 0 win for the club.
** Hockey match played under the rules of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Roller Hockey Association.
On 14th May 1910, the final night of the first season, a hockey match between the club team and staff ended in a 3 v 0 win for the club.
Advert in Stirling Observer 12th January 1910
In the next season the hockey club was not so successful. On 19th October 1910, the first Carnival of the new season featured a hockey match with Falkirk Olympia which had a score of Stirling 2 v Falkirk 4. The goalkeeper of the previous season had left and the replacement was not as good. Falkirk were now claiming to be the best team in Scotland.
On Wednesday 9th November 1910 there was another sports night but no hockey. It now seemed there was a lack of members coming forward in the club and from this point on no adverts featured men’s hockey matches.
In 1911 things must have improved as some hockey matches took place. A team from the club played rink staff on Wednesday, 18th January but were beaten 2 v 3. On Friday 20th January in Glasgow, the club played a Victoria Road team and drew 3 v 3. On Saturday 21st January at Larbert, they played Larbert and were beaten 1 v 4. On Wednesday night 1st February in a hockey friendly against Summerton, Govan, in Stirling, the club won 5 v 3.
However all was not well as on Saturday, 4th February a team were to travel to Perth for a game but only one person turned up. The B team were to travel to Alloa, but only 2 people turned up. Thereafter the teams no longer travelled to away matches.
When Alloa travelled to Stirling on Thursday evening 16th February a match took place which Stirling won 6 v 2.
On Thursday night 23rd February there was a hockey match against Victoria Road, Glasgow, when the club were beaten by 2 v 3. The match should have been played on Saturday, but the visitors wired to say they would play on Thursday instead. There was too little time to arrange the home team so that the B team had to play them.
Ladies were also taking part in the club and eventually formed separate teams. On 15th March 1911 a special programme advertised a Ladies hockey match for the first time. It was a match between Alloa and Stirling A teams with 6 a side. Stirling won 2 v 0 and the match was livelier than expected. The teams wore different coloured ties to distinguish themselves, pale blue for Stirling, red for Alloa. Another match for the Ladies team against Larbert Ladies would have been arranged, but closure stopped any further development.
Having a successful men’s hockey team in the first season seems to have dissuaded others from coming forward and the club did not do well in the second season. They lost key members who were not replaced till much later on, by which time it was too late. Ladies had attitudes to overcome as well and this may have constrained their development until late on.
On Wednesday 9th November 1910 there was another sports night but no hockey. It now seemed there was a lack of members coming forward in the club and from this point on no adverts featured men’s hockey matches.
In 1911 things must have improved as some hockey matches took place. A team from the club played rink staff on Wednesday, 18th January but were beaten 2 v 3. On Friday 20th January in Glasgow, the club played a Victoria Road team and drew 3 v 3. On Saturday 21st January at Larbert, they played Larbert and were beaten 1 v 4. On Wednesday night 1st February in a hockey friendly against Summerton, Govan, in Stirling, the club won 5 v 3.
However all was not well as on Saturday, 4th February a team were to travel to Perth for a game but only one person turned up. The B team were to travel to Alloa, but only 2 people turned up. Thereafter the teams no longer travelled to away matches.
When Alloa travelled to Stirling on Thursday evening 16th February a match took place which Stirling won 6 v 2.
On Thursday night 23rd February there was a hockey match against Victoria Road, Glasgow, when the club were beaten by 2 v 3. The match should have been played on Saturday, but the visitors wired to say they would play on Thursday instead. There was too little time to arrange the home team so that the B team had to play them.
Ladies were also taking part in the club and eventually formed separate teams. On 15th March 1911 a special programme advertised a Ladies hockey match for the first time. It was a match between Alloa and Stirling A teams with 6 a side. Stirling won 2 v 0 and the match was livelier than expected. The teams wore different coloured ties to distinguish themselves, pale blue for Stirling, red for Alloa. Another match for the Ladies team against Larbert Ladies would have been arranged, but closure stopped any further development.
Having a successful men’s hockey team in the first season seems to have dissuaded others from coming forward and the club did not do well in the second season. They lost key members who were not replaced till much later on, by which time it was too late. Ladies had attitudes to overcome as well and this may have constrained their development until late on.
References: Stirling Observer articles, 1909 to 1911.