Men's England Hockey League
The Men's England Hockey League is a field hockey league organized by England Hockey that features men's teams from England.
| Most recent season or competition: 2019–20 Men's Hockey League season | |
 | |
| Sport | Field hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1974 |
| Inaugural season | 1974–75 |
| Administrator | England Hockey |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | England |
| Confederation | EHF (Europe) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Surbiton (3rd title) (2019–20) |
| Most titles | Cannock (7 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Division One |
| Domestic cup(s) | England Hockey Men's Championship Cup |
| International cup(s) | Euro Hockey League |
| Official website | Men'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. [1] The winners of the Premier Division regular season automatically qualify to play in the Euro Hockey League. [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 Men's England Hockey League and will qualify to play in the Euro Hockey League. 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 Euro Hockey League. [2]
2019–20 teams
Premier Division
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Beeston | Beeston, Nottinghamshire | Nottingham Hockey Centre |
| Brooklands MU | Sale, Greater Manchester | Brooklands Sports Club |
| East Grinstead | East Grinstead, West Sussex | East Grinstead Sports Club |
| Hampstead & Westminster | Maida Vale | Paddington Recreation Ground |
| Holcombe | Rochester, Kent | Holcombe Park |
| Old Georgians | Addlestone | St George's College |
| Reading | Reading, Berkshire | Sonning Lane |
| Surbiton | Long Ditton, Surrey | Sugden Road |
| University of Exeter | Exeter | Streatham Campus |
| Wimbledon | Wimbledon, London | King's College School |
Division One South
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton & Hove | Brighton and Hove | Blatchington Mill |
| Canterbury | Canterbury | Polo Farm |
| Fareham | Fareham | The Henry Cort Community College |
| Havant | Havant | Havant Park |
| Oxford Hawks | Oxford | Banbury Road North |
| Oxted | Oxted | Oxted School |
| Sevenoaks | Sevenoaks, Kent | Vine Cricket Ground, Hollybush Lane |
| Southgate | Trent Park | Southgate Hockey Centre |
| Team Bath Buccaneers | Bath | University of Bath |
| Teddington | Teddington | Teddington School |
Division One North
| Team | City/town | Home pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Bowdon | Bowdon, Greater Manchester | The Bowdon Club |
| Cardiff & Met | Cardiff | Sophia Gardens |
| City of Peterborough | Peterborough | Queen Katharine Academy |
| Durham University | Durham | The Graham Sports Centre |
| Leeds | Leeds | Sports Park Weetwood |
| Loughborough Students | Loughborough | Loughborough University |
| Olton & West Warwicks | Olton | West Warwickshire Sports Club |
| Sheffield Hallam | Sheffield Hallam University | Abbeydale Park |
| University of Birmingham | University of Birmingham | Bournbrook |
| University of Nottingham | Nottingham | University of Nottingham |
History
The Men's National League was introduced for the first time in 1974–75.
List of champions
Champions
By club
| Club | Championships | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannock | 7 | 2 | 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06 |
| Reading | 6 | 7 | 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12 |
| Slough | 6 | 1 | 1975–76, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87 |
| East Grinstead | 4 | 6 | 1984–85, 1985–86, 2008–09, 2009–10 |
| Southgate | 4 | 3 | 1976–77, 1977–78, 1987–88, 1988–89 |
| Surbiton | 3 | 5 | 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 |
| Havant | 3 | 1 | 1990–91, 1992–92, 1993–94 |
| Beeston | 3 | 1 | 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14 |
| Hounslow | 2 | 2 | 1989–90, 1992–93 |
| Wimbledon | 2 | 1 | 2014–15, 2015–16 |
| Hampstead & Westminster | 1 | 2 | 2018–19 |
| Bedforshire Eagles | 1 | 1 | 1974–75 |
| Isca | 1 | 1 | 1978–79 |
| Teddington | 1 | 1 | 1994–95 |
| Canterbury | 1 | 1 | 1999–2000 |
| Neston | 1 | 0 | 1983–84 |
| Westcliff | 0 | 2 | |
| Bury St Edmunds YMCA | 0 | 1 | |
| Trojans | 0 | 1 | |
| Cambridge City | 0 | 1 | |
| Fareham | 0 | 1 | |
| Lyons | 0 | 1 | |
| Old Loughtonians | 0 | 1 | |
| Stourport | 0 | 1 | |
| Indian Gymkhana | 0 | 1 |
By region
| Region | Championships | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| South East England | 23 | Reading (6), Slough (6), East Grinstead (4), Havant (3), Surbiton (3), Canterbury (1) |
| Greater London | 10 | Southgate (4), Hounslow (2), Wimbledon (2), Teddington (1), Hampstead & Westminster (1) |
| West Midlands | 7 | Cannock (7) |
| East Midlands | 3 | Beeston (3) |
| South West England | 1 | Isca (1) |
| North West England | 1 | Neston (1) |
| East of England | 1 | Berdforshire Eagles (1) |
Premiership Tournament/Super Cup winners
| Season | Champions | Runners Up |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Cannock | Reading |
| 1999–2000 | Cannock | Canterbury |
| 2000–01 | Surbiton | Guildford |
| 2001–02 | Reading | Surbiton |
| 2002–03 | Reading | Loughborough Students |
| 2003–04 | Reading | Cannock |
| 2004–05 | Cannock | Reading |
| 2005–06 | Reading | Surbiton |
See also
References
- "Men's Hockey League". www.englandhockey.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- "Play-Offs". www.englandhockey.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- "M1 Retain Their MHL Title With Sudden Death Shootout". surbitonhc.com. 29 April 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- "M1 & L1 Champions, L2 Promoted". Surbiton Hockey Club.