At Grays Hockey, we live and breathe the game, and we’re proud to be the world's oldest hockey brand; trusted by players across the globe for over 150 years. Our journey isn’t just about making hockey equipment though; it’s about a continuous passion for performance and innovation that has shaped the sport itself.
1. From Ash in Cambridge to World-Class Exports
While the broader Grays company traces its roots back to 1855, our deep connection to hockey began in the 1870s, when we started producing hockey sticks from ash in Cambridge. By 1914, our commitment to quality saw Grays exporting our hockey equipment all around the world, making customised sticks for leading players.
We’ve never been a brand to stand still. In 1953, we introduced the 'White toe,' a non-wood application designed to seriously improve the head durability of wooden sticks.
2. The Karachi King Era and the Iconic Orange Flash
The 1960s was a defining era for Grays Hockey. In 1968, the iconic Karachi King was developed. It set the gold standard in hockey sticks for three decades, used by teams worldwide, including the Pakistan team at the Mexico Olympics.
Then came the 1970s, and with them, the birth of our unmistakable brand marker: the Orange Flash. Initially used on the Karachi King, this flash of colour has remained on Grays sticks ever since, becoming an instantly recognisable symbol of the Grays brand and a pledge to trust only the best.
3. Driving Innovation
The decades that followed saw us cement our reputation as true pioneers:
1983: Grays was the first to develop laminated heads, leading to the creation of the midi and maxi head shapes, and we launched our first-ever hook stick.
1986: We brought our first foam goalkeeping range to the game.
1990: The Orange Flash evolved, changing from a square to an angular rhombus shape.
4. The Composite Revolution
It was in 1998 that Grays truly led the charge into the modern game, becoming the first brand to launch a range of composite hockey sticks. This game-changing innovation became the legendary GX range, which was quickly renowned for its reliability and consistent feel. Our commitment to innovation continued, evolving the classic composite into the refined GR series, which integrated Graphene for enhanced power and responsiveness, while also driving forward foam core technology.
This foam core journey, pioneered in sticks like the KN series, has culminated in our most advanced offering yet: the AC (AeroCore) Collection. The AC sticks feature an aerospace-grade internal foam core for exceptional feel, unrivalled power and superior balance. Furthermore, the AC Collection sets a new standard for sustainable stick design by introducing a solvent-free core construction to significantly reduce environmental impact, embodying our commitment to both elite performance and the planet.
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5. Trusted by the Best – A True Legacy
Our sticks have been the choice of leading internationals for decades. Our legacy includes working with icons for over 130 years.
We continue to work with hockey's greatest players to power their careers. Today, we're proud to be a brand for all, supplying best-in-class equipment at every level of the game, from your local pitch to the world's grandest stage, the Olympics.
6. Not Just Sticks
It’s not just our sticks that are favoured by top players; our Hockey Shoes are also used by many of the world's best. In the fiercely competitive environment of international hockey, performance footwear is non-negotiable. That's why top players like England and Great Britain star Zach Wallace choose to take to the field in Grays shoes. Our footwear is engineered for the demands of the modern game, providing the perfect blend of grip, stability, and comfort needed for explosive speed, sharp turns and powerful strikes at the highest level.
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7. 2025/26
Entering into the 2025/26 season, our passion for innovation has taken another step forward.
We’ve completely restructured our approach to how players choose their stick. For decades, the material composition and the iconic colourways were the main deciding factor. Today, we're focused on the type of player you want to be, and the skillset you aspire to build and maintain, as the driving reason for making your decision.
Our brand-new stick families are constructed solely around the bow shapes. We’ve always had different bows, but we're now taking a much more granular and intentional approach to the overall shape of the stick, from top to bottom. This makes it easier than ever for players at all levels to choose a stick that maximises their style of play. Crucially, within each bow family, we offer numerous carbon compositions at various price points, whilst consistently maintaining the same bow – ensuring you can focus on shape as your deciding factor.
Each family has also undergone a huge transformation which we were excited to launch in June.
Check out our Stick Buying Guide for more information.
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8. Keeping it in the Family
While Grays Hockey has been at the forefront of the game for generations, it remains an independent family business. It is still 100% owned and run by the fifth generation of the Grays family, ensuring that the passion and heritage of the original founders are still central to every product decision.
Grays of Cambridge (Int) Ltd was founded in 1855 and is still going strong 170 years later. Did you know the company also runs some more of the world's most recognisable sporting brands, including Gray-Nicolls (Cricket), Gilbert Rugby, and Gilbert Netball, cementing its deep, historical expertise across multiple major sports.
