Stockport has a few records to its name: home of the UK's only dedicated hatting museum; site of the country's largest bottle-cap mural; and our swimmers hold the world record for the fastest ever time for 50m relays.

But one you might not know is that our town is also home to the world's oldest continuously playing lacrosse club.

Stockport Lacrosse Club, based in Davenport, is celebrating its 150th birthday this year.

Since its founding in 1876, the club has had a long and successful history, glittering with silverware and prestige.

Across the men's and women's teams, it boasts 28 Senior Flags trophies, 25 First Division championships, 24 English championships, eight Wilkinson Sword Trophies, and one Senior League championship.

It has also trained and fielded a stellar cast of international players, including 36 senior men's caps for England, four senior women's caps, and has also produced players who went on to represent Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Poland over the years.

The club started partly by chance.

In 1876, a group of rugby players were travelling home to Stockport by train when they passed Longsight Cricket Club. Out of the window, they spotted members of the Canadian Montreal Club and Caughnawaga Indians playing lacrosse in an exhibition match, during a tour of the UK.

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Immediately inspired, they decided to establish a lacrosse club in their home town.

At the time it was the sixth lacrosse club in the UK - with these contemporaries having since closed, the Stockport club is now considered to be the oldest continuously playing lacrosse club in the world.

The club started life in Shaw Heath, then moved to the Stockport Cricket Club ground (originally at Charles Street, Hillgate).

Ultimately, though, they moved to Cale Green - the same location the club calls home today.

Success came not long after - after just nine years, in 1885, the first team reached the Senior Flags Final for the first time and came out victorious against South Manchester.

This victory marked the beginning of an extraordinary period of dominance.

For the next eight seasons, Stockport won the Senior Flags. During the same period, the club won the First Division on six occasions and won the Iroquois Cup to become English Club Champions on seven occasions.

This era established the long history of success the club has enjoyed ever since.

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As a result of consecutive wins of the Senior Flags, Stockport was awarded the Challenge Flag trophy in perpetuity. The trophy still hangs in the clubhouse today.

In 1908, lacrosse featured in the Olympics held in Great Britain, and four Stockport players were selected for the squad: G. Mason, C.J. Mason, F.S. Johnson and L. Blockley.

This recognition demonstrated the club's standing as one of the premier lacrosse institutions in the country.

The club was also witness to the most critical moments in modern history.

During the First World War, for example, around 70 men from the club were drafted into the East Lancashire Territorials, and the club became a site for army drills and recruitment.

The club also lived through the Second World War. It was only after, in around 1949, that the club started to rebuild and return to normality.

Key milestones since then have been the development of the women's and junior teams, all helping to further cement the club's prowess as one of the foremost lacrosse institutions in the country.

Reflecting on their anniversary and history, a club spokesperson said: "Stockport Lacrosse Club has always been maintained by the tireless dedication of the numerous volunteers who have given up their time to support the club over the past 150 years.

"Every year, the club recognises the support of one outstanding volunteer from the season, all in honour of Les Grainger, a man who dedicated 60 years to supporting the lacrosse club and developing the junior boys into the thriving section it is today.

"The club is proud of its 150 years of history and looks forward to another 150 years of success and, more importantly, community. Throughout 2026, the club will be celebrating this remarkable milestone with a series of events and activities.

"Stockport Lacrosse Club continues to welcome new members of all ages and abilities, maintaining the spirit of inclusivity and community that has sustained it for a century and a half."

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