Older League News (before Sept 1st 2020)
Holiday absence: 31 Aug: Please note that webmaster and ELS, Trevor Williams has taken his bucket and spade to the seaside and will be paddling until Sept 11th.
East Handbooks: 17 Aug: These are due for delivery around the region in the first half of next week. Numbers are the same as usual. If any problems, please wait until the end of the week to signal if you have not received your copies. (Norfolk clubs not in the East Leagues will receive copies at their preseason meeting).
Division 6NE: 7 Aug: Following the withdrawal of Pelicans 4 from EML 6NE, a new set of fixtures for a 22-week 14-team division have been posted. Times and venues can now be entered for this restructured division.
Technical Officiating : 1 Aug: It has been the practice for the past few years to run a training/familiarisation for Technical Officiating at the PLUM pre season tournament. This year PLUM is being held on Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12 September next. Three venues: Chelmsford [Sat and Sun], Old Loughtonians [Sat] and Redbridge [Sun]. Running such a course this year will be very dependant on numbers so if you are interested in becoming a Technical Official and would like to attend, or have more information, would you please contact Sheila George as soon as possible at smg.68@btinternet.com or on 01493 752189.
Fixtures: 24 July: Men's, Women's and Vet's League fixtures are now all loaded in their corrected and final form. The Times & Venues facility is now available, and information must be added for all first-half fixtures at least 4 weeks before the start of the season. Please note that the system has been modified to accommodate a new server, and has been tested, but there may still be minor glitches - please email the webmaster if you experience any difficulties at all.
Club Information Update: 1 July: Four clubs failed the deadline and will pay a 50% increase in league fees: Basildon, Carlton Park, Ford, Yarmouth.
The data received as of today will be input to the new East Handbook. Your club page can of course be updated throughout the season, but if you make any changes in the next three weeks please also email details to the editor for inclusion in the Handbook proofs.
EML Divisions allocations: 30 June: Now completed. The revised structure is available here. Fixture preparation is now under way.
Minutes of 2010 AGM: 23 June: These are now available via the Meetings page.
Mens League 2010-11: 18 June: Divisional allocations are now available. Please email any comments or concerns by 25th June, after which the allocations will be finalised and fixtures prepared. Clubs with a team in Div 9SW must confirm that they still wish to enter that team.
Outstanding fines: 16 June: Clubs fined for not appearing at Presentation Day must make payment promptly to avoid further penalties. Cheques to Samantha Menear as soon as possible please
League AGM and Presentations: 11 June: The League AGM last Sunday passed all proposals (minutes to follow shortly) and concuded with Presentations to Division Winners and leading goalscorers. The Hugh Jarvis Fair Play Award was presented to East London, and the East Women's League Fair Play Award to Louth.
Goals wanted: 11 June: Plashet HC is looking for a pair of second-hand goals. If you can help, please contact Daljeet Cheema.
Change of phone number: 7 June: Please note that EWL Premier Division Manager, Janet Goody, now has a new mobile number - 0754 095 4221
Results and Tables: 5 June: 2009-10 season now transferred to the Previous Seasons page. During June and July fixture data for 2010-11 will be added to the Results, Tables and Times & Venues pages.
EWL Divisions: 26 May: Allocations of teams to divisions for the coming season are now available, via the usual link on the Preseason Page. Fixtures should be published by the end of June. All queries to the EWL Results Coordinator Sarah Mann please.
EML entries: 1 June: The following Clubs missed the deadline for entry; in consequence they will not be permitted to enter any new teams: Bourne, Maldon & Little Baddow, Newmarket, Old Loughtonians.
EML Promotions & Relegations: 15 May: the tables are now complete so far as finishing positions are concerned. However, please note that there will be changes as the 2010/11 divisions are set up. In particular, there are three SW teams relegated from 2S and three NE teams from 2N, but only only one SE team and one NW team relegated. As a consequence there may be extra relegations from SW and NE divisions and extra promotions in SE and NW divisions. Other factors that may affect divisional placings next season are the number of team entries, new teams being accommodated, and teams refusing promotion.
New Men's League Manager: 11 May: In view of planned retirements, the League Committee would like to hear from Men's League members interested in taking up a position as a League Manager this coming season or the next. The hours are long, the pay non-existent, and the decision making arduous, but job satisfaction is high and the sandwiches are good. Please email Trevor Williams if you would like to be considered.
AGM and Presentations 2010: 10 May: To be held at Letchworth HC on Sunday 6th June. Details of the AGM agenda are available on the AGM page. The AGM invite and agenda and postal voting forms will be sent to the MLO's and WLO's of all Clubs shortly.EML Entries for 2010-11 season: Apr 28: Team entries for next season for the Men's League must be made by May 31st. The procedure is as before - follow the link on the left of the Preseason page. You will need your usual Club password. Please do this as soon as you are certain of your teams for next year - the sooner we have all team numbers, the sooner you will receive your fixtures. September will upon us all too soon!
Dates for 2010-11: 28 Apr: Dates for both Leagues are as follows:
EML: 25 Sept - 4 Dec, 15 Jan - 26 Mar
EWL: 18 Sept - 4 Dec, 15 Jan - 12 Feb, 5 Mar - 2 AprLeague Management Meeting: 20 Apr: Minutes of the April meeting are available via the Meetings link. Main items were promotions and relegations; disciplinary issues arising towards the end of the season; proposals for the AGM to make changes in the appeals and disciplinary rules, postponement rule, and playing surfaces rule; and actual and planned retirements by League Managers, Chairman, and Secretary.
Men's League top goalscorers: 1 Apr: Please email the webmaster with details of your club's top league goalscorer if you wish him to be considered for the 2010 Top Scorer Trophy. Entries by the end of April please, to give us time to check the claims for accuracy. Now closed.
10 May: Winner: 65 goalsClosure of Leagues: Apr 12: As previously notified, the East Leagues closed their season yesterday. Any matches not yet played will not be included in the final results lists or tables.
East Grand Masters 60+ East Trials: 11 Apr: These will be held on 15th April at Chelmsford HC, starting at 7pm. Players must reach age 60 in this calender year. Selection will be for the Regional Tournament on 15-16 May at Cannock .
Please call Phil Withers Vice Captain urgently to register your interest on 07702 001663 or send email to philwithershockey@btopenworld.com
If you cannot attend at this late stage - and you are interested for this year or next year - please call Phil to register your interest - we want to make the East trials as broad as possible. The East Grand Masters Captain is John Steward on 01473 833 560 - call if you need more information.Return of trophies: 7 Apr: The following clubs have not returned their trophies and are consequently fined £50 per team:
Old de Ferrians (1's and 2's), St Albans Citizens, Saffron Walden, Luton Town, and St Neots
Would they please arrange to return trophies to Samantha Menear as soon as possible. This delay is causing extra work for league managers who already have more than enough to do.East Champions: 1 Apr: Congratulations go to Dereham and St Albans on their promotion to the England Hockey League as Champions of East Women and East Men respectively. We wish you well in hockey's premier competition, and hope in the nicest possible way not to see you back in the East Leagues anytime soon.
AGM and Presentation Day: Mar 31: These will now be held on June 6th at Letchworth HC. Details will be posted on the AGM page after the final League Committee meeting in April.
Travel to Ipswich: 17 Mar: There are major road works on the A14 which have delayed teams travelling to play in Ipswich the last couple of weekends. The section affected is between the A140 junction and Ipswich, and teams should allow an extra 30 minutes travel time at least until Easter.
Men's League 6NE: 14 Mar: North Walsham 4 have withdrawn from the division.
League Trophies: 10 Mar: Last year's winners are reminded that EML trophies must be returned to Samantha Menearand EWL trophies to Sarah Mann, by 30th March. Your cooperation will be apppreciated in doing this as early as possible, - and also in cleaning the trophies before return!
EML - Ipswich : 26 Feb: Ipswich 5th has withdrawn from Division 5NE.
Match rearrangements in Herts and Beds: 22 Feb: clubs with outstanding postponed matches requiring pool umpires should note that HBHUA cannot raise pool umpires for Sundays without at least three weeks notice. In March there will also be extra demands on pool umpires for JAC competitions. Please make your match rearrangements asap and give plenty of notice to Iain Fletcher of HBHUA.
Complete Rules Revision: 14 Feb : The League Rules complete rewrite now includes a number of changes folowing comments from clubs. Please take time to look through the latest draft and email the webmaster with any comments or suggestions. The draft can be seen or downloaded in Word format here.
League Management Meeting: 8 Feb: Minutes of the February meeting are available via the Meetings link. Main items were review of season to date by the League Managers; problems with indoor postponments; actions regarding several serious disciplinary incidents; and proposed rule changes regarding university players, junior players transferring to senior hockey, and indoor postponments.
Access to Harlow HC: 5 Feb: Clubs travelling to Harlow should allow extra time as there are major roadworks on the A414 from Junction 7 of the M11 to the junction with the A1169 (Southern Way) and delays of 30 minutes are normal. These works are expected to last until autumn 2010.
EML - Bury St Edmunds : 5 Feb: BSE 5th team will withdraw from the East Men's League 6NE from 13th Feb onwards
EML - Havering: 26 Jan: Havering 5th team has regrettably had to withdraw from the East Men's League 7SE with immediate effect.
EWL - Bourne: 22 Jan: Bourne 2nd team has regrettably had to withdraw from the East Women's League 2NW with immediate effect. There are not sufficient resurces to complete the fixture list, nor to play friendly matches instead.
Cancellations: 18 Jan: Results for a number of divisions were posted on the site late this week, because League Managers were waiting for the results of matches that were in fact cancelled. If your match is postponed, you must telephone that information to your League Manager/Results Coordinator (as appropriate) by the usual results deadline. Failure to do so is not just ill-mannered, but a breach of rule 4.4 which can lead to a penalty.
Entering results in EWL- postponed games: 11 Jan: Please take the trouble to read the instructions on the input page - do not put P in the score boxes to indicate a postponed game. Report the postponment to your League Manager who will do what is necessary. A P in the score box will prevent display of the league tables.
St Ives Leisure Centre: 8 Jan: This Centre has recently be renamed to
One Leisure St Ives. Alll references here to the old name are now deleted.Postponements: 6 Jan: When a League Manager agrees a postponment the club must enter the new date, time and venue in the website match times and venues section and confirm these details DIRECTLY to the other club, the league manager, the results coordinator, and ESPECIALLY the umpiring pool organiser if in a division covered by a pool. Entering the new details on the website is not in itself sufficient.
There have been a number of badly organised postponements recently, leading to a great deal of time wasting and irritation for clubs, the league, and umpires. Our collective patience on this is currently running very thin.
Be fully aware of league rules 4.2 on postponements generally and 4.5.1 on indoor postponements, as failure to follow procedures might cost you the match.
With current weather, it is likely that most games this weekend will be cancelled. You should rearrange these to as early a date as possible, not to the end of the season. For EWL cancellations on the 9th Jan, the February break should be used, or a Sunday. Given the likelihood of more bad weather to come, we should keep March 30 and April 10 free for as long as possible. The leagues are scheduled to finish by April 11th, and we are unlikely to extend that deadline or else we will run into problems with the already tight schedule for closing the season and setting fixtures for the following season early enough for clubs to book pitches. To say nothing of giving a short break to those fules wot do this work.League Management Meeting: 14 Nov: Minutes of the Nov meeting are available via the Meetings link. Main items were review of season to date, strength of promotions into EWL, and complete revision of league rules.
Brentwood HC Sawyers Hall Lane Pitch: 13 Nov: The club apologises that the Sawyers Hall College pitch is currently unavailable due to sewage contamination. Arrangements have been made to rectify the problem but these are not likely to complete until 4th Dec. All current fixtures will be moved to another pitch or may be liable to postponement. If you need any further information please contact the relevent Brentwood Fixtures Secretary.
Spalding HC facilities: 8 Oct: The club apologises that changing facilities at Glen Park, Surfleet are still temporary and without showers. This will be sorted eventually, but your patience is appreciated in the meanwhile.
Brentwood HC travel issues: 8 Oct: Brentwood High St will be closed to for roadworks until Oct 30th. If travelling to play Brentwood, please allow extra time for the journey.
League Management Meeting: 5 Oct: Minutes of the September meeting can be found via the Meetings page. Main points were a review of rule suggestions from various clubs at the end of last season, various season preliminaries and notices, and returning the onus to clubs to monitor yellow cards.
Yellow card suspensions: 5 Oct: Reminders of multiple yellow cards will no longer be issued to Clubs. Yellow card bans are automatic, so clubs need to monitor cards and apply bans for themselves. League Managers will know from their own records when players should not be playing, and will apply match penalties when bans are not observed.
Top 3 EML Results 7th Nov to 12th Dec: 5 Oct: In the absence of Richard Munns, all results for Prem A, Prem B and Div 1 should be phoned to Chris Hillsdon on 01487 842286 by the usual deadline.
AGM and Presentation Day 2010: 5 Oct: This will be held on Sunday June 6th. Offers are invited from clubs to host this event. A room for 120 people, buffet facilities at reasonable cost, and bar are the usual requirements. Location should be reasonably central within the Region. Please email the webmaster if you are able and willing to host this event.
Postal Strike: 30 Sep
League fees: Because of the disruptions caused by random Royal Mail strikes, the deadline for the submission of league fees has been extended to the 2nd October. Any penalties applied so far to clubs for failing to meet the original deadline will be withdrawn. To help avoid such last-minute problems in future, the league will propose an additional rule in 2010 that fees must be paid by the end of August on penalty of a substantial surcharge, whilst the requirement to pay by the start of the season in order to be eligible to play will remain in force.
Team sheets: League Managers will be flexible so far as the Wednesday deadline is concerned, but will not tolerate clubs attempting to use the strikes to hide late postings. If your area is affected by mail problems, as a minimum you should post teamsheets first class on Mondays so that Managers can see that best efforts have been made.
Gloucester Park, home to Basildon HC: 28 Sep: there are major redevelopment works underway at Gloucester Park from October 2009 through to April 2011. Car Parking will be extremely limited and we recommend car-sharing wherever possible. Should you require any further information please contact Sara Hills, Chairperson BHC,sarahills1@yahoo.co.uk
Transfer system: 28 Sep: the system is now operational for 2009/10
Overseas players: 28 Sep: The new wording in League Rule 3.1 reproduces the new wording in the EHL Rules for this season, which adds the new Certificate of Sponsorship to the eligibility options. The insertion of the new wording does not alter the required status for a work permit as described in last year's rules - to confer eligibility a permit must be issued for employment as a hockey player or coach. Clubs are also reminded that the rules do not allow for one overseas player to be deregistered and another one brought in. It is one name only for the whole season, even if that player stops playing.Outstanding payments: 11 Sep: A club with any payments owing to the League at the start of the season is not eligible to play, and all matches will be irrevocably awarded 0-3 against until payment is made. This applies to fines still outstanding from last season (Old de Ferrians in EML and Bromley & Beckenham in EWL) and league fees (quite a number of clubs).
The deadline for EWL is Friday 18th and for EML is Friday 25th Sept
Emergency fixtures: 9 Sep: IES Ladies 1 is looking for a match this Saturday, at Ipswich or away. Contact Charlie Farrow on 07811 336895.
More generally, is there a need for an emegency section in the Find a Fixture system? Email the webmaster with your thoughts.
League fees: 7 Sep: The following clubs have not yet paid their league fees:
Alford and District , Basildon , BBHC , Bromley and Beckenham , Clacton , East Ldn , Ely City , Felixstowe , Folkestone , Ford , Harpenden , Havering , Horncastle , Lincoln , Luton Town , Luton Vagrants , Maldon and Little Baddow , March Town , MBDA , Newmarket , Old Buckenham , Old de Ferrians , Phoenix , Plashet , Potters Bar , Ramgarhia , Rickmansworth and Chess Valley , Rochford Casuals , Romford , Royston , St Albans , St Neots , Sudbury , Thertford Town , Thurrock , Univ East Anglia Men , University Essex , Upminster , Witham.
Failure to pay by the start of the season, i.e. 19 Sep for EWL and 26 Sep for EML, will mean permanent loss of all games 0-3 until paid.
Cheques and enquiries to the League Budget Officer, Samantha Menear, please.
Captains contact details: 5 Sep: Clubs are reminded of the obligation to send contact details for their Captains for the coming season to their League Managers. This information is needed by the start of the season at the latest, but it would be helpful if it was sent within the next few days.
Harlow 3: 2 Sep: Regrettably Harlow 3 have withdrawn from EML Division 8SE.
Times & Venues: 1 Sep: The deadline for entering home match details on the website for matches in the first half of the season is long since past, yet a number of clubs are still to input the necessary information. For some clubs there are only a few dates to complete, but for others no details have been provided at all. League Managers are now considering the application of fines to these clubs under rule 4.2.
Clubs of particular concern are:
Mens League: Broxbourne, Clacton, East London, Harlow, Holt Harlequins, MBDA, Old de Ferrians Rochford Casuals, Romford.
Womens League: BBHC, Bromley & Beckenham, Colchester, Gravesend, Haverhill, Old de Ferrians, Sevenoaks, Welwyn Garden City.
This information is needed by other clubs and by umpiring organisers, and it is unfair that the majority of clubs should be inconvenienced by the few.
East Handbooks 2009-10: 18 Aug: These will be mailed out on Thursday 20 Aug, so should arrive early next week. As usual single copies are going to all East, County, and Umpires Association officers as listed in the Handbook, plus V-P's, press, and EH. East League Clubs will receive 4 for single clubs or 6 for joint clubs, plus 1 per team. County League clubs will receive 2 copies. All Norfolk Clubs, East or County League, will receive their copies at their preseason meeting in early Sept (for details refer to Avril Mallett).
League fees: 6 Jul: Invoices have now been sent to Club CLO's at the postal adresses in the league database as at mid-July. Remember that these invoices must be paid to the League Budget Officer before the start of the league season.
New Rules 2009-10: Jul 30: A new guide for umpires has been produced by EH and is available here as a pdf file. It covers the implications of the new self-pass and five-metre rules in considerable detail.
Crane Hockey Club: 21 July: The Club has changed its name to Ipswich Cranes Hockey Club.
Fixtures and fixture systems: 21 July: all Men's, Women's and Vets fixtures are now confirmed for the coming season, and the Times/Venues system is now available for home clubs to upload fixture details.
East Hockey Handbook: 21 July: Copy now finalised - no further changes are possible to the Club information section.
Club changes for 2009-10: 17 July: Braintree and Dunmow have merged as Phoenix HC, and the new club will play its home games at The Four Releet, Braintree.
South Herts Ladies have merged with Potters Bar Men, and will play as and at Potters Bar HC.
Gainsborough Roses HC is renamed as Lincoln Roses HC, but otherwise is unchanged.Fixtures and fixture systems: 7 July: all Men's, Women's and Vets fixtures are now posted and can be seen on the usual pages. These fixtures must be treated as provisional until 19 July. If you see any errors please email details immediately. The FixtureFinder system now has 2009/10 dates and is available for use. The Times/Venues system will be updated shortly. Be patient.
Club Updates: 30 June: All Clubs have updated their Club Pages. This is greatly appreciated and is well worth everyone's efforts.
The 2009-10 East Hockey Handbook club information section will be based on this database as at 30th June. If you need to update your entry after today, please do so, but an email to alert me to what has been changed would be very helpful. After 23rd July, the handbook copy will be finalised and no further changes will be possible.
AGM & Presentation Day: 8 June: draft minutes of the AGM on 6th June are now available via the Meetings link. All Officers were re-elected, plus one new League Manager for the Men's League. All proposed rule changes were agreed. Fees remain unaltered from last season.
The Hugh Jervis Fair Play Trophy for the Men's League was won by Potters Bar HC, and the Women's Fair Play Trophy was won by Saffron Walden HC. Top goalscorer in the Men's League was Martin Gough of London Met University HC with 49 goals. Top goalscorer in the Women's League was Evie Van Poortvliet of Dereham HC with 50 goals in Premier, and divisional top goalscorer trophies were also won by Nia Evans, Olivia MacGregor, Chris Giles, Jessica Shand, Amy Blackwell, and Jo Shrimpton.
Presentation photographs have been loaded by sponsors NE14HOCKEY on Facebook.
Thanks go to Letchworth HC for hosting the event with a fine buffet and cracking beer.
EML League Entries: 1 June: All clubs bar one had entered by midnight on the 30th. Many thanks to those that did not need to be chased. Allocation of teams to divisions will start shortly.
Results of EH consultation on Men's EHL on Saturdays: 27 May: Three men’s EHL dates will move to Saturdays for the 2009/10 season to free up players and coaches for JRPC: 26 Sept, 10 and 24 Oct. Clubs may switch these games to Sundays if both teams agree but player and coach priority will be for JRPC activity. The only other Saturdays to be used for Men’s EHL games allow for Cup and Performance activity on the Sundays of those weekends. A further review will take place at the end of he 2009/10 season. Full text here (PDF).
Men's League promotions and relegations: 15 May: The consequences of the two relegations from EHL to East have now been incorporated into the tables, following completion of the EHL playoffs, and there are a number of extra relegations, and the SW quadrant is particularly affected.
Any known withdrawals from the league or refusals of promotion are not included in the tables. They will be built into the divisional allocations for next season, which will be available in late June once entry numbers are known.
New Divisions: 15 June: Allocations of teams to divisions have now been published. Please email me asap if you have any issues with your allocations, and by 26th June at the latest, after which fixtures will be set for the coming season. For details go to the Preseason Page.
EWL: 22 June: Sudbury 2 in 2NE now correctly numbered. 23 June: Braintree and Dunmow have merged - working title for new club is BDHC.
EML: 17 June: Divisional allocations for the SE quadrant have now been revised to ensure that teams are not inappropriately moved up or down following the withdrawal of London Met University, to take into account requests not to be promoted, and to deal with the bottom three divisions being smaller than last year.
18 June: Following concerns expressed about travel, Divs 6NW and 7NW have been provisionally rearranged into two divisions 6NW, north and south. Comments are needed from all the clubs involved in these divisions. Comments substantially in favour and divisions finalised on 23 June.
23 June: Braintree and Dunmow have merged, and as a consequence have dropped one team from 10SE. Working title for new club is BDHC.
Some promotions in SE and NE have been declined, with consequent changes.League AGM: 12 May: Agenda and voting papers are now in the mail. Clubs voting by post should return their papers as soon as possible. For full details of the meeting and proposed rule changes follow the meetings link on the right.
South Herts Ladies: 8 May: Following a recent merger with the Potter Bar Men's Club, South Herts will be playing as Potters Bar Ladies next season. Pitch and clubhouse arrangements remain unchanged.
Ladies League dates: 5 May: Dates for next season have been added to the Preseason page. There will be no half term break prior to Christmas, but a double Saturday break in February. First choice slip dates will be Sundays for both halves of the season.
EHL Playoff results : 3 May: City of Peterborough Men are relegated to East, and the consequent changes in relegation numbers from Premier A downwards will be input to our league tables shortly. More cheerfully, Sevenoaks Women comfortably won their playoff tournament and therefore retain their EHL place.
Congratulations to Sevenoaks, and commiserations to City of Peterborough.
Men's League entries: 27 Apr: Clubs should now complete the website form to tell us how many teams they wish to enter in the league next season. This information must be supplied by 31st May. Follow the preseason link on the right to find the form.
East Vets League: 20 Apr: The East Vets League (EVL) season has been completed with Ipswich successfully retaining their title. Looking forward to season 2009/10, EVL is hoping to recruit up to 3 more teams and welcomes entry from former members and new clubs alike. Interested clubs please contact Bob King, 07802 203112 or bob.king@crispmalt.com for further information.Photographs wanted: 19 Apr: The cover of last year's East Handbook featured action photos from club photographers. We would like to do the same again, so if you have any good resolution action shots you would like to be considered please email as jpg files to the webmaster.
Minutes of April League Committee Meeting : 19 Apr: outstanding match and disciplinary issues were discussed and resolved; final league tables cannot be published until the completition of the EHL playoffs in May, after which there is a strong possibility of extra relegations in both our Leagues; allowing abandoned match results to stand after a minimum time played was discussed but not agreed; arrangements for Presentation Day and AGM at Letchworth HC on 7th June are well under way; East League responses have been made against proposals to switch all EHL games to Saturdays. See full minutes via Meetings link.
Cambridge City are East Champions: 11 Apr: Congratulations to Cambridge City Ladies on clinching top spot in EWL Premier after a tight battle all season. They now go forward as Champions of East into the national league.
National league relegations: Mar 29: EML: Ipswich return to Premier A, and as a consequence Ipswich 2 are relegated to Premier B; City of Peterborough enter the EHL playoffs in April to determine which further teams are to be relegated to their regional leagues. EWL: Maidstone are relegated to East Premier, and Sevenoaks enter the April EHL playoffs.
Harleston are East Champions: 23 Mar: Congratulations to Harleston Men on clinching top spot in EML Premier A by winning 7-1 on Saturday and ensuring their promotion to the national league as Champions of East.
Slip matches: Mar 16: once rearranged, new match dates and venues should be immediately inserted into the Times & Venues system to help ensure that results are collected and added to league tables promptly.
Return of trophies: Mar 15: Clubs with trophies awarded last year are reminded that these must be returned to the League by March 31st, on penalty of a £50 fine. EWL trophies should go to Sarah Mann, and EML trophies to either Samantha Menear or Russell Nutter. Act now and save money.
New hockey rules: 7 Mar: Hockey rule changes to “decrease the number and duration of interruptions to the flow of play and to increase the length of time the ball is in active play” will apply in all domestic hockey in England from 1st September 2009. A self-pass from a free hit has been introduced. This enables the player taking the free hit to play the ball again after taking the free hit. In addition, to stop the ball from being played dangerously into the circle from free hits in the attacking 23 M area, these free hits can no longer be played directly into the circle. See here for a pdf giving full details of the changes.
World record attempt - more details: 7 Mar: the longest hockey match ever will take place at Highfields in Nottingham on 29/30 Aug between the Tempest Tigers and the Mercian Mercianaries. The event is supported by Tempest Sport and Mercian Hockey and will raise money for Cancer Research through corporate and participant sponsorship. Full details can be found here.Minutes of League Committee Feb meeting: 5 Mar: In addition to ongoing club and match matters, the meeting considered rule proposals for next season: the different rules on penalties for results and teamsheet failures in the two leagues are combined to give a single rule applying a warning first, a fine second, and a point deduction subsequently; League Managers to have discretion to apply fines or award matches for failures to load time & venue information on to the website properly, or to make time or venue changes without informing the opposition, or to not properly inform travelling opposition of cancellations due to weather. There will be a player registration deadline in Premier divisions of Feb 1st, and a limitation on how far bench players in higher leagues can play down for match practice is to be introduced.
The AGM and Presentation Day was confirmed at Letchworth HC on June 7th.
You can see the full minutes via the Meetings link on the right.
EWL Division 2NW: Mar 2: Folowing their fourth forfeited game, Lincoln 2 are now withdrawn from this divsion and all results to date are void. The club hope to fulfill remaining fixtures as friendly matches.
Promotions and relegations: 25 Feb: These will be appearing in league tables shortly. Please note that these will be provisional, as some promotions and relegations will depend on factors not yet settled, such as the number of relegations from the national leagues. There is a strong possibilty that more than one East team will fall from the EHL into each of our leagues, and so generate extra relegations. Details will not be available until the EHL Conference play-off after the end of the league season. Best not to be complacent about your East League position therefore.
EHL 2nd teams: 25 Feb: Clubs are reminded that only EHL Club 2nd teams are eligible to play in EWL Premier or EML Premier A. If a team is relegated from EHL to East the club's 2nd team loses that eligibility in the corresponding league, and if in one of the premier divisions will take one of the set relegation places , i.e. will become the notional bottom team.
Trophies: 17 Feb: Clubs with trophies in their possession must return them to the League by 31st March or face a hefty fine. Please make arrangements to send EML trophies to Russell Nutter or Samantha Menear and EWL trophies to Sarah Mann.
EWL rule error: 17 Feb: Please note there is an error in rule 6.3 concerning events if more than one team is relegated from the EHL into East. The extra relegation from Divs 1 will of course be of one of the the 8th-placed teams
Weather cancellations: 17 Feb: There have been too many instances where home clubs have failed to cancel matches in time to prevent the visiting team from travelling. This has usually been the first match of the day, and the home club has clearly not had proper pitch inspection arrangements in place. No matter how early the match, an inspection must be done well before the away team leaves its home club. If necessary, contact should be made the night before to check the leaving time, and perhaps to ask if travelling in the hope of a pitch thaw is acceptable.
Most clubs are well organised, but a significant number are not, and too many away teams have recently been annoyed and inconvenienced by travelling in vain.
Present league rules allow only for postponements, but a change will be proposed to the next AGM to allow the League Manager discretion to postpone, void, or award the match, depending on circumstances. Clubs that cannot be bothered to check the pitch in time can then lose out.
Ladies Division 1N and 1S: 12 Feb: Rosemary Prince will be away for the next week. For issues regarding matches on the 14th and 21st February please contact Sarah Mann 01621 892821. Team sheets should be sent to Rosemary as usual. On the 14th results can be input to the website as normal by the deadline. On the 21st when several postponed games are being played results cannot be input so please email the names of the two teams and the result to Rosemary.
Cancellations: 8 Feb: Following yesterday's mass cancellations, matches should be rearranged to the next available slip date, which for most teams will be 4th April. However, in view of the forecast of more snow next week, it would be prudent to use an earlier date if possible. Please inform your League Manager of the rearranged date within the next two weeks, otherwise a date may be imposed and a fine given.
The League is scheduled to finish on the weekend of 4th/5th April. Teams with several postponements may have to use Sundays to ensure that all matches are played by that weekend.Player transfers: 2 Feb: Routine transfers into the East League have now ceased for the season. Those incomplete by Feb 1st are not valid.
The League Management Committee may accept late transfers for reasons outside of hockey, such as a change of domicile, on application to the East Leagues Secretary.
Henry Wanchoo email: Please note this is now henry.wanchoo@ptl.co.uk
Road closure affecting access to Blueharts: 15 Jan: Old Park Rd is being re-surfaced for 9-12 weeks starting 19 January. To access the Boys School pitch, use the Fishponds Rd (small) car park by the pitch or approach the school via Bedford Rd not Old Park Rd one way system.
Old Park Rd will be closed to non-residents. To reach the Clubhouse explain that you need to get to get to the Hockey Club in Lucas Lane.
Addresses: 15 Jan: By a considerable majority, clubs favour removing all postal addresses from the website ClubSearch section and from the East Handbook League Section (but with a postal address being held by the League for mailing purposes). If your Club thinks to the contrary, email the webmaster now (see below - 26 Dec).EWL cancelled fixtures on 10th Jan: 12 Jan: Home teams should rearrange these to Feb 21st, unless that date already has a slipped league match. League matches must take precedence over friendlies. Please confirm the details with your League Manager as soon as agreed with the away team.
N.B. Sundays are an alternative to Feb 21st, the earlier the better.
We must avoid end of season slips at this stage. With February forecast to be colder than average, further games may yet be lost to freezing conditions. As usual, matches not played by the end of season in mid-April will be voided.
Outstanding fines: 12 Jan: Several clubs have long outstanding fines to pay: BBHC, Folkestone, Thurrock, and Old Loughtonians in the EWL and Vauxhall in the EML.
Please ensure that your club pays any outstanding money as soon as possible. We do not want to be forced to pursue the alternative of a 7-day notice followed by suspension from the league (and consequent 0-3 match awards).
Club Information sections : 26 Dec: The East Handbook and the ClubSearch section of the website include postal addresses for the Club Liaison Officer, League Liaison Officers, Fixture Secretaries, and Umpiring Liaison Officer of every Club. With email now being the standard mode of communication, we need to assess the value of including all these addresses. Please email the webmaster with your Club opinion on a suggestion that in future we include only the postal addresses of the Club Liaison Officer (for club correspondence) and Fixture Secretaries (for circulation of fixture cards). This would save work for everybody.
(Initial responses suggest that removing all club officer postal addresses from the Handbook and website would not be a problem - please consider this option also).Slip matches: Dec 9th: Matches postponed during the first half of the season should already have been rearranged for a date before the January restart (those cancelled on 22 Nov to be played on 13 Dec). If not, please do so immediately - there are fines for late arrangements, and your League Manager may impose a date if teams are slow to oganise. With the worst of winter weather usually after Christmas, we must hold slip dates in the second half of the season in reserve for now. Looking ahead, we are aiming to complete the Leagues before Easter Saturday, April 11th.
We hope you have enjoyed the season so far and are looking forward to your return fixtures after the break. Don't forget to thank your umpires for services rendered, and also those long-suffering servants of hockey, your Club Fixture Secretaries and your League Managers. You might just need them again next season
EML Division 7NE: Dec 2nd: Following the withdrawal of Felixstowe 4 this division has thirteen teams and an uneven distribution of games. Positions must therefore be decided on a % basis, i.e. points gained as a % of points possible. The table display now shows this.
November League Management Meeting: Dec 1st: The minutes of this meeting are now available via the Meetings page. Main items were matters arising from the first two months of the season, mainly point deductions and warnings for inadequate results and teamsheet administration; a proposal to have the same rule in both Leagues on penalties for late results etc; the need for a general clean up of the whole rulebook; and decision to hold the 2009 AGM/Presentation Day at Letchworth HC.
Postponements on Nov 22nd: In view of the large number of postponed and abandoned matches, the leagues have set a rearrangement date. These fixtures must be played on Dec 13th unless there is already a league slip match arranged for that date, in which case the match should be played on Jan 3rd (EWL) or Jan 10th (EML). Clubs with pitch booking difficulties on the proposed slip date must contact their League Manager immediately.
League slips must take precedence over friendly matches. Failure to play on the dates specified above without prior agreement from the League Manager may result in 0-3 match forfeits.
Rules of Hockey: 18 Oct: The FIH Rules Board has issued this statement: It is anticipated that the next Rules of Hockey and Rules of Indoor Hockey will take effect from 1 June 2009. Until new sets of rules are published and implemented, the 2007-2008 rules continue to apply. What changes there will be in 2009 is still under discussion within the FIH. The Hockey Rules Board has already undertaken a significant review of the Rules of Indoor Hockey. At its meeting in November 2008, it will finalise any proposals for changes to the rules for outdoor hockey.EML Division 6NW: Cambridge Nomads 4 have withdrawn from the league with immediate effect. All fixtures will be blanked. The team's home venues have likewise been blanked, but for their away matches, would the home clubs make the necessary changes please.
EML Division 8SE: Maldon and Little Baddow 3 have withdrawn from the league with immediate effect. All fixtures will be blanked. The team's home venues have likewise been blanked, but for their away matches, would the home clubs make the necessary changes please.
Telephone correction: Sept 30: The telephone number given at the beginning of the 2008 Handbook for Samantha Menear is incorrect. The number to be used for match results is 01708 700040.
Sept League Management Meeting: Sept 29: Minutes now posted on site. Main issues considered were: clubs not complying with deadlines on Captains' infomation, fee payments, premier registrations, and loading match times and venues on the website; agreement to coordinate our rules for premier divisions with those of other regional leagues on player registration, transfers, and EHL club player selections; changes in Level 1 umpire processes and requirements in league hockey; disciplinary issues from last season; and two rule proposals for the 2009 AGM - Jan 31st cut off date for new premier division player registrations, and requirement that Clubs must ensure that unqualified umpires officiating in emergencies have adequate insurance cover.EWL Premier and EML Premier A: not all Clubs have sent in registration forms. These must be received before the start of the season. Fielding unregisterd players may lead to matches being awarded 0-3 against. Please expedite your forms to Janet Goody or Robert Southgate as appropriate. (apologies for Prem B typo in original entry)
EML League Fees outstanding: Update: Sept 27: The following EML Clubs did not pay on time: Felixstowe, Maldon and Little Baddow. All matches will be irrevocably awarded 0-3 against until payment received.EML 5NE and 5NW: Update: Sept 20: Norwich Dragons 4 and Peterborough Exiles, respectively, have withdrawn from these divisions. There are no replacements and all fixtures will be blanked. The two clubs should by now have contacted other teams in those divisions.
EHL 2nd teams: 18 Sept: As the EHL season does not start until after the EWL season starts, team selection for East League matches this coming Saturday should follow the rule of selecting the 2nd team as though a full strength 1st team was playing . A note has been added to the New Rules this Season page. If in doubt, consult your League Manager.
Captain and Vice-Captain details: Sept 17: All teams must email their League Manager with contact details before the first match. Many have yet to do so. Failure will result in a £20 fine.Home game times and venues: Sept 17: Some Clubs have not yet entered these, much to everyone's inconvenience. All disputes over match arrangements will be decided in favour of the away team if time/venue details were not posted by the home club by the deadline of three weeks ago. If umpires are inconvenienced, additional penalties will be applied.
Wapping and East London pitch bookings: 10 Sept: Due to double booking by one of the venues, fixture times for Wapping have not yet been added to the website, and for East London match times are likely to have to be changed. Both clubs are working to resolve the issue and will update/amend the website (and advise opposition teams) as soon as possible. This applies only to games at Mile End. John Orwell games for Wapping are unaffected.
EWL Division 2NE and 2SW: 9 Sept: Following the withdrawal of Hadleigh from 2NE, we have now been able to bring in a new team to indirectly fill the gap. New team Wapping 2 will move into 2SW and replace Sudbury 2, and Sudbury 2 will move into 2NE to fill the gaps left by Hadleigh. Existing times and venues for home fixtures for the other teams in both divisions will be unchanged. Both Sudbury and Wapping will set up their home match arrangements as soon as possible. Any queries re 2NE to Sarah Mann and re 2SW to Samantha Menear as soon as possible please. Although these rearrangements come very close to the start of the season, we believe that the effort involved is justified by the success of maintaining all divisions at 12 teams and ensuring no loss of hockey due to the original withdrawal. Thanks are due for the initiative and work of Sam and Rosemary Prince.EML Division 5SE: 6 Sept: Harwich 1 has withdrawn from the division. All fixtures will be blanked, and each team will have two empty Saturdays.
EML Division 7NW - change of plan: following the withdrawal of March 5, all of that team's fixtures will now be taken over by Spalding 5.Reverse venues: Sept 1: an error in the dates list has been corrected. A club should only be able to access and edit times and venues for its home dates, even when they are being reversed.
East League Fees: invoices now in post to CLO's. Payment must be made before Sept 20th (EWL) or Sept 27th (EML and EMVL).
Please note that there is an erroneous reference to umpiring fees on the Remittance slip. The invoices are for League fees only - umpiring fees are being collected via invoices direct from ERHUA.
Match times and venues: Aug 15: Clubs expecting pool umpires next season should inout home times and venues to the website asap, so that Pool Secretaries can begin scheduling early season appointments.
East Handbook : 15 Aug: Handbooks were injected into Royal Mail yesterday and should be delivered to Clubs and individuals early next week.
Under-13 age limits: 5 Aug: The Board of EH agreed at its July meeting to accept a recommendation from the Regional Consutative Committee that a player becomes eligible to play adult hockey once they reach their 13th birthday. (Previously age at Jan 1st was used).
EH Code of Discipline: 5 Aug: This has recenrly been changed and incorporated into a new Code of Ethics and Behaviour, details of which can be found on the England Hockey website at: www.englandhockey.co.uk/equityandethics
The new Discipline Code has been abridged by Norman Stott, National Discipline Officer, as follows .... more here
East Men's League changes: 22 July: Marconi have withdrawn from the League and their fixtures in 6SE have been blanked, so this division will be playing with 11 teams.
East Men's League changes:16 July: there have been some minor changes to fixtures: 5SW now has the correct team St Albans 5; in 3NE the H/A sequences for Harleston Magpies 3 and 4 have been reversed - this will have no effect on other clubs' pitch bookings.
Match venues and times: 7 July: Now that fixtures are reasonably well settled, the system for adding your home match venues and times has been activated. To use this you need your usual club password. Access is via the link on the left. To see venues and times that have been added, follow the Results and Tables links.
Find a Fixture: 5 July: dates for 2008-9 season now applied.
Club Updates: 4 July: These clubs did not meet the deadline for updating their info page and will pay a 50% surcharge on league fees: Hadleigh, LincolnEH Code of Discipline: 5 Aug: This has recenrly been changed and incorporated into a new Code of Ethics and Behaviour, details of which can be found on the England Hockey website at: www.englandhockey.co.uk/equityandethics
The new Discipline Code has been abridged by Norman Stott, National Discipline Officer, as follows:
I suspect players and umpires will be particularly interested in the new provisions for dealing with red cards and matchday misconduct offences, and it is here that some of the most significant changes have been implemented. In particular, we have tried to simplify matters by reducing the number of categories of offences from 7 down to 3. Under the new arrangements, a red card/ MMO will therefore be categorised as either:-
a. Physical violence neither used, offered nor threatened;
b. Physical violence offered or threated to another person (including another player); or
c. Physical violence offered or threated to an umpire/ match official/ tournament official.
The principle of mandatory minimum suspensions continues to apply and has been set at 16, 30 and 60 for categories (a), (b) and (c) respectively. It is however, important, to appreciate that these are mandatory minimum suspensions, and that the changes do not represent any softening to the ”zero tolerance” approach to poor discipline.
The other significant change has been to try and introduce greater consistency in penalties. CDAs will therefore have discretion to impose penalties not exceeding 30 days for offences in categories (a) and (b), and not exceding 60 days in category (c), but will need RDA approval for penalties above those times. From a practical point of view, this means a CDA could impose a suspension not just of 16 but (say) 25 days for a category (a) offence under his/ her inherent authority. If the CDA felt that the offence merited suspension in excess of 30 days this too would be permitted under the Code, subject to the approval of the RDA having been secured.
A Summary of the Code of Ethics and well as the full Code of Ethics, that now includes the Discipline Code can be found on the EH web site, http://www.englandhockey.co.uk Click on Equity and Ethics and it is the first two documents on the right hand side under links/documents.Fixtures: 30 June: All East League fixtures loaded on the site. Follow the Results and Tables link. Please advise any apparent errors as soon as possible.
Changes have been made to all NE divisions, to 7SE, 8SE and 9SW.
Kenneth Lochhead: 23 June: All involved with East hockey will be saddened to know that Kenneth died yesterday. Further details of funeral arrangements will be published as soon as they become available. Follow this link to see detailed arrangments for the Funeral and Thanksgiving.
Women's League Divisions 2008: 18 June: The allocation of teams to divisions is now complete, and fixtures will be produced shortly. A few suggestions that would reduce travel for some clubs were considered, but not utilised as they would result in a disproportionate increase in travel for others. Follow the Preseason link to see the final layout.
Men's League Divisions 2008: 16 June: The allocation of teams to divisions is now complete, and fixtures will be produced shortly. Follow the Preseason link to see the final layout.
Men's League Divs 5,6 and 7NE: 16 June: The email debate about the structure of these divisions has ended with a decision to revert to a 12-team 5NE and a 14-team 6NE.
Club Changes: 3 June: Norwich Union are leaving Pinebanks and will play under the name of Norwich Dragons from this coming season, and St Albans Exiles have merged with St Albans HC but will continue to play under the Exiles name.Women's League tables: 31 May: These are now finalised and show all promotions and relegations, including the extra relegations caused by the restructuring of the EHL, and changes due to match awards against Ipswich, Old Loughtonians and Sevenoaks in Premier and 1S.Men's, Women's and Vets Leagues: 9 May 2008: All Clubs playing in these Leagues next season must complete an entry form and update their information page. This must be done after April 1st and before June 30th, on penalty of increased league fees. No dispensations are allowed. Some Clubs have already completed the form, most have not. Apologies to any Club with an AGM later than June 30th, but a later deadline would cause delays in publishing the East Handbook. Use the Club Update link onthis or the Home Page.
Club changes: 3 June 2008: please note that Norwich Union are leaving Pinebanks and will play under the name of Norwich Dragons from this coming season; Marconi HC has merged into Old De Ferrians HC; and St Albans Exiles have become part of St Albans HC and though continuing to play under the Exiles name will adopt St Albans colours. 10th June: Correction: Marconi will remain as an independent Club.
9 May 2008
League dates 2008-9: now available on the Preseason Page. Follow the link on the right.
League Committee: April minutes now posted.5 May 2008
EHL play-off results: Harleston Magpies and Holcombe Ladies kept their promotion hopes alive until the last day of the play-offs, but by the end had narrowly missed out, Harleston on goal difference and Holcombe by just two points. Regrettably, that will lead to extra relegations from our two premier divisions and downwards.
25 Apr 2008
EWL Premier Division : Following an extensive review, a number of matches were awarded against Old Loughtonians 2 and ipswich 2 due to incorrect selection of 1st team players. The league table and results pages have now been amended to show these awards. Clubs in Premier should note that the relegation of Cambridge City 1 from the EHL has increased the relegation places to four. Should Holcombe fail to qualify for the EHL in the playoffs (due 5th May) there will be five relegations.25 Apr 2008
Presentation Day and AGM: Details of venue, times, and propsed new rules and officers are now available. Follow the link on the right to see the AGM pages.04-04-2008
Return of League Trophies: A number of Clubs have not yet returned their trophies awarded last season. Theyshould be sent immediately to David Burt, 30 St Peter's Street , Duxford, Cambridge , CB22 4RP (01223 834097 / 573550 (H/F) 07881 815567 (M) d.burt@bas.ac.uk) Late trophies attract a £50 fine.04-04-2008
2008 Handbook photographs: If you have any club hockey action photoes from this season that you would like to see on the cover of the Handbook, please email a jpeg to the webmaster along with a note of the match details.19-03-2008
East Women's League, Divisions 2C, 2N, and 2S: following the decision to enlarge the League next season, there will be no relegation from these three divisons at the end of this season.
19-03-2008
Promotions and relegations: These are now being indicated on some league tables. Clubs shoukd remember that these are for the moment provisional placings, and may be modified in light of EHL promotions/relegations or disciplinary point deductions and match awards yet to be decided. For the Men's league, promotions and relegations in lower divisions may as always be affected by the number of league entries made next season. The best policy in light of any uncertainties is to endeavour to win all your remaining matches.18-03-2008
Men's Premier B and Women's Premier Divisions: A detailed investigation is being carried out on team selections by some EHL Club 2nd teams playing in these divisions. The League Management meeting on 17th April may consequently apply penalties and match awards. Unfortunately, no relegation positions can be determined for these divisions until that process is completed. The patience of the other clubs not under review but potentially affected by this would be appreciated. Sad to say, a further consequence of this issue will be an extensive tightening of League Rules 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 for next season.10-03-2008
East League Champions: Congratulations go to Harleston Magpies for establishing an unassailable lead in Premier A and becoming East Champions. Harleston from EML and Holcombe from EWL will now go forward to the Slazenger National League play-offs after East. We wish them the best of luck in that competition.27-02-2008
Natonal League promotions and relegations (clarified) : At the end of the season, the teams in 11th and 12th positions in EHL North and South Divisions will be relegated to their regional leagues. The two teams finishing 10th will have a play-off, and the loser will go into the regional play-offs from which there will be only two promotions to the national league. Our East Champions will not be automatically promoted to the national league, but will also have to enter the regional play-offs.
If our Champions fail to be promoted or if an East club should drop down from the national league, there may be additional relegations from our Premier Divisions. In EML Premier A we have already allowed for one such addtional relegation by reducing the number of promotions from Prem B this year to two, but that is not the case in the EWL. Looking at current national league tables suggests that the EWL is more likely to be affected than the EML, with a knock on effect on lower divisions.27-02-2008
Website : Thinking about next season, it would be very helpful to hear reactions from users about the current layouts of results and tables pages compared to the old layouts. Given a choice, which would you prefer - one division per page, or groups of divisions per page? Is there a better layout than either of these? Please email the webmaster with your comments, and help to inform planning for next season.18-02-2008
League Management Meeting : Minutes of the meeting on Feb 7th are now posted on the site. Main topics included an agreement to expand the East Women's League in 2008/9 by a further Division 2 to reduce travel distances; the need to have more stringent rules for postponements for indoor; the Club Umpires website list showing that virtually every club complies with League rules on numbers of qualified umpires; alignment of regional league rules, and the need for stricter procedures for inter-league transfers; and various playing and disciplinary matters arising during the season so far.