Women's England Hockey League
| Countries |  England |
|---|---|
| Administrator | England Hockey |
| First tournament | 1989–90 |
| Last tournament | 2020–21 |
| Number of teams | 11 (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 |
The Women's England Hockey League is a field hockey league organised by England Hockey that features women's teams from England. [1] From 2011-2020 it was sponsored by Investec and was referred to as the Investec Women's Hockey League.[2]
Format[]
Regular season[]
There are 61 teams in the league, the top tier consists of a Premier Division of eleven 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. [3]
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. [3]
2021–22 teams[]
Premier Division[]
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Beeston | Beeston, Nottinghamshire | Nottingham Hockey Centre |
| 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, Leicestershire | Loughborough University |
| Surbiton | Long Ditton, Surrey | Sugden Road |
| Swansea | Swansea | Swansea University's International Sports Village |
| University of Birmingham | Birmingham | Bournbrook |
| Wimbledon 1st XI | Wimbledon, London | Raynes Park High School King's College School |
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 |
| Surbiton 2nd XI | Long Ditton, Surrey | Sugden Road |
| Trojans | Southampton | Stoneham Lane |
| Wimbledon 2nd XI | Wimbledon | Raynes Park High School King's College School |
Division One North[]
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Belper | Belper | Belper Meadows |
| Ben Rhydding | Ben Rhydding | Coutances Way |
| Bowdon Hightown | Bowdon, Greater Manchester | The Bowdon Club |
| 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 |
| Leicester City | Leicester | Leicester Grammar School |
| Olton & West Warwicks | Olton | West Warwickshire Sports Club |
| Stourport | Stourport-on-Severn | Stourport Sports Club |
| University of Nottingham | Nottingham | David Ross Sports Village Nottingham Hockey Centre |
History[]
The Women's National League was introduced for the first time in 1989–90. [4][5] and the inaugural Women's National League title sponsored by Typhoo was won by Slough.[6]
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[]
- England Hockey Women's Championship Cup
- Men's England Hockey League
- England Hockey Men's Championship Cup
References[]
- ^ a b "Investec Women's Hockey League". www.englandhockey.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ "Investec ends sponsorship with England Hockey ahead of Tokyo Olympics". The Hockey Paper. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Play-Offs". www.englandhockey.co.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ a b "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.
- Women's England Hockey League
- Field hockey leagues in England
- Women's field hockey leagues in Europe
- Women's field hockey competitions in England
- 1989 establishments in England
- Sports leagues established in 1989