News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
HILLCREST'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1969 - 2019

HILLCREST'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1969 - 2019

Deborah Williams10 Mar 2020 - 13:46
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.hillcrestnetball.c

See our history in photographs and take a look at our 50 years of Hillcrest Photo Album

Annie Morley, former member and Chairman, donates a plaque to mark our 50th. Our cover photo includes Annie Morley and 6 of our very distinguished founder and long standing members, Jean Self, Di Phillips, Nicki Constant, Audrey Nicholls and Carol Pyke.

Hillcrest Netball Club started in 1969 by a small nucleus of mums looking for an outlet from the nappy washing and shopping! They started playing at a sports field in Coulsdon Surrey situated on the brow of a hill, hence the name “Hillcrest”.

It was soon to be established as one of the six top clubs in Surrey having played in all the leagues Croydon and Surrey had to offer and boasting numerous County and England players along the way.

The club became independent joining Warlingham Rugby FC in 1985 and after years of fundraising they finally, helped with finances from the Sports Council and various other bodies, never looked back. The 2 new courts and facilities were officially opened by Sir Geoffrey Howe MP.

In June 2009 Hillcrest celebrated the completion of building another floodlit court, offering 2 floodlit courts for the Junior and Senior training nights.

Hillcrest currently runs five senior teams, with their first team playing in the Regional League. The club also runs a large Junior section boasting five U16 teams playing regularly in a Surrey Junior League as well as a Mini section for those up-and-coming netballers aged between 7yrs and 11yrs old.

One of the clubs best team performers is the Hillcrest Back to Netball team, a lively bunch who either hadn't played netball for years or were new to the sport, who come along to keep fit and active, with lots of giggles guaranteed.

A calendar event every year is the clubs annual Summer Camp. It's a week of netball and many hilarious fun activities for girls and boys during their school holidays. England Netball players and Super League players past and present have run coaching sessions at our Summer Camps and at the club in general over the years.

Despite being very competitive, Hillcrest is a very sociable and friendly club of all ages and abilities where one can make many life-long friends. As Hillcrest celebrate their 50th year and look back on their club over the years, they pay tribute to their founder members:

  • Heather Edmondson (sadly passed away), Rita Hughes, Hylda Smith, Iris See (sadly passed away), Jackie Woodage, Dianne Phillips, Jean Self and Yvonne.

These ladies started Hillcrest as a little Acorn and because of what they started, a great Oak tree has indeed grown.

Further reading