Women's England Hockey League
The Women's England Hockey League is a field hockey league organised by England Hockey that features women's teams from England. It is currently sponsored by Investec and as a result is also referred to as the Investec Women's Hockey League. [1]
| Countries |  |
|---|---|
| Administrator | England Hockey |
| First tournament | 1989–90 |
| Number of teams | 10 (Premier Division) 10 (Division 1 South) 10 (Division 1 North) 30 (Conference teams) |
| Current champion | Surbiton |
| Most successful | Slough (11 titles) |
| Website | Women's Hockey League |
Format
Regular season
There are 60 teams in the league, the top tier consists of a Premier Division of ten teams. Below this is tier two, which consists of two ten team Division One regional teams (North and South). The third tier consists of three regional conferences North, West, and East, all consisting of ten teams.. The teams play each other home and away during an 18 week season from September to April. The league has a winter break between December and February. At the end of the season there are a series of play-offs that decide which teams are promoted and relegated and which team finish as champions. [1] The winners of the Premier Division regular season automatically qualify to play in the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup. [2]
League Finals Weekend
The top four Premier Division teams from the regular season qualify for the League Finals Weekend. The team that wins this tournament will be overall champions of the Women's England Hockey League and will qualify to play in the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup. If the team finishing top of the Premier Division at the end of the regular season also wins the League Finals Weekend tournament, the tournament runners-up will qualify as England's second team in the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup. [2]
2019–20 teams
Premier Division
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Beeston | Beeston, Nottinghamshire | Nottingham Hockey Centre |
| Bowdon Hightown | Bowdon, Greater Manchester | The Bowdon Club |
| Buckingham | Buckingham | Stowe School |
| Clifton Robinsons | Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol | Coombe Dingle Sports Centre |
| East Grinstead | East Grinstead, West Sussex | East Grinstead Sports Club |
| Hampstead & Westminster | Maida Vale | Paddington Recreation Ground |
| Holcombe | Rochester, Kent | Holcombe Park |
| Loughborough Students | Loughborough | Loughborough University |
| Surbiton | Long Ditton, Surrey | Sugden Road |
| University of Birmingham | Birmingham | Bournbrook |
Division One South
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge City | Cambridge | Wilberforce Road |
| Canterbury | Canterbury | Polo Farm |
| Harleston Magpies | Harleston | Shotford Heath |
| Isca & University of Exeter | Exeter | University of Exeter Sports Park |
| Reading | Reading, Berkshire | Sonning Lane |
| Sevenoaks | Sevenoaks, Kent | Vine Cricket Ground |
| Slough | Slough, Berkshire | Upton Park, Upton Road |
| St Albans | St Albans | Oaklands College |
| Trojans | Southampton | Stoneham Lane |
| Wimbledon | Wimbledon, London | King's College School |
Division One North
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Belper | Belper | Belper Meadows |
| Ben Rhydding | Ben Rhydding | Coutances Way |
| Brooklands Poynton | Sale, Greater Manchester | Brooklands Sports Club |
| Durham University | Durham | The Graham Sports Centre |
| Gloucester City | Gloucester | Plock Court and St Peter's High School |
| Leeds | Leeds | Sports Park Weetwood |
| Leicester | Leicester | Leicester Grammar School |
| Olton & West Warwicks | Olton | West Warwickshire Sports Club |
| Stourport | Stourport-on-Severn | Stourport Sports Club |
| Swansea | Swansea | Swansea University's International Sports Village |
History
The Women's National League was introduced for the first time in 1989–90. [3][4] and the inaugural Women's National League title sponsored by Typhoo was won by Slough.[5]
Past Winners
Premier Division
Premiership Tournament/Super Cup
| Season | Champions | Runners Up |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Slough | Clifton |
| 1999–2000 | Hightown | Ipswich |
| 2000–01 | Slough | Ipswich |
| 2001–02 | Olton & West Warwicks | Slough |
| 2002–03 | Slough | Canterbury |
| 2003–04 | Hightown | Chelmsford |
| 2004–05 | Canterbury | Leicester |
| 2005–06 | Leicester | Canterbury |
See also
References
- "Investec Women's Hockey League". www.englandhockey.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- "Play-Offs". www.englandhockey.co.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- "Joyce Whitehead. "Slough are the first national champions." Times [London, England] 19 Mar. 1990". The Times Digital Archive.
- ""Tea company to sponsor new league." Times [London, England] 26 Apr. 1989". The Times Digital Archive.
- "Joyce Whitehead. "Slough to receive trophy." Times [London, England] 16 Mar. 1990". The Times Digital Archive.
- "Alix Ramsay. "Slough scoop the pot." Times [London, England] 25 Mar. 1991". The Times Digital Archive.
- "Alix Ramsay. "Slough seal trophy." Times [London, England] 2 Mar. 1992". The Times Digital Archive.
- ""England team due for early return." Times [London, England] 15 Mar. 1993". The Times Digital Archive.
- "Alix Ramsay. "Leicester shut out Ipswich to end long title wait." Times [London, England] 25 Apr. 1994". The Times Digital Archive.
- "Sydney Friskin. "Teddington sights on final." Times [London, England] 14 Apr. 1995". The Times Digital Archive.
- ""Holland repeat mastery." Times [London, England] 15 Apr. 1996". The Times Digital Archive.
- "Alix Ramsay. "Slough lift their fifth title in eight years." Times [London, England] 14 Apr. 1997". The Times Digital Archive.
- "L1 Win League Title For Fourth Season In Succession". surbitonhc.com. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- "M1 & L1 Champions, L2 Promoted". Surbiton Hockey Club.