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]
Current season, competition or edition: 2023–24 Women's England Hockey League season | |
 | |
| Sport | Field hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| First season | 1989–90 |
| Administrator | England Hockey |
| No. of teams | 12 (Premier Division) 10 (Division 1 South) 10 (Division 1 North) 30 (Conference teams) |
| Country | England |
| Confederation | EHF (Europe) |
| Most recent champion(s) | East Grinstead (1st title) (2022–23) |
| Most titles | Slough (11 titles) |
| Domestic cup(s) | England Hockey Women's Championship Cup |
| International cup(s) | Women's Euro Hockey League |
| Official website | Women's Hockey League |
Format
editRegular season
editThere are 62 teams in the league, the top tier consists of a Premier Division of 12 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
editThe 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]
2023–24 teams
editPast winners
editThe 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]
Premier Division
editPremiership Tournament/Super Cup
edit| 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 |
Champions
editBy club
edit| Club | Champion | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slough | 11 | 1 | 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2007–08, 2009–10 |
| Surbiton | 9 | 1 | 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24 |
| Leicester | 6 | 6 | 1992–93, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011–12 |
| Hightown/Bowdon Hightown | 4 | 3 | 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2008–09 |
| Reading | 2 | 1 | 2010–11, 2012–13 |
| Ipswich | 1 | 7 | 1992–93 |
| East Grinstead | 1 | 1 | 2022–23 |
| Canterbury | 0 | 5 | |
| Holcombe | 0 | 3 | |
| Olton & West Warwicks | 0 | 2 | |
| Hampstead & Westminster | 0 | 2 | |
| Clifton | 0 | 1 | |
| Chelmsford | 0 | 1 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "Club Round Up: 2nd & 3rd April 2022". Surbiton HC. Retrieved 10 April 2022.