ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE 2018-19 dates & divisions
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- Created on Tuesday, 29 May 2018 09:33
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 May 2018 11:36
- Published on Tuesday, 29 May 2018 09:33
England Hockey have released the league calendar dates and division constitution for next season's Investec Women's Hockey League and Men's Hockey League.
The new national league season will start over the weekend of Saturday September 29 and Sunday September 30.The Women’s Hockey League starts on the Saturday, with the Men’s Hockey League beginning 24 hours later.
The first half of the season will end over the weekend November 25/26 weather permitting.
As is customary the league season will resume in the first weekend of February which will be February 2/3 in 2019.
The list confirms Exeter University’s promotion to the Men’s Hockey League top 10 following their Conference West win.
The greens subsequently topped the Premier Division play-off group to put Devon Hockey back on the national map.
Exeter are the only South West side in the men’s top flight although Bristol side Clifton Robinsons maintained their women’s Premier Division status after a successful relegation battle, one they aim to avoid next season.
Exeter’s promotion means there are only three South West teams in the Men’s Conference West, boosted by University of Bristol regaining promotion back to the England Hockey League just a season after relegation.
The Bristol students will want to consolidate their national league status after pipping Plymouth Marjon to the West of England & South Wales Hockey League title in an thrilling finish to the regional season.
Team Bath Buccs and Exeter-based Isca, who play at University of Exeter Sports Park, maintained their national league status while Cheltenham and Bristol-based Clifton Robinsons were relegated back to the regional top flight.
The national league experience will have been a massive learning curve for Robbies, who will try and emulate their Bristol rivals – at the university – and bounce straight back.
With league reorganisation set for 2019-2020 there’s every chance the Bristol blues will soon be playing EHL hockey again.
Wales will again be proudly represented in the national league by Cardiff & Met, who are there or thereabouts in the Men's Conference West title chase season on season.
Exeter women’s hockey fans can once again look forward to a cross-city derby as Exe regained promotion to the Women’s Conference West and will now face Isca University twice in the regular season.
Like the men's division there are only three south west sides in the women's West Conference, with Gloucester City making up the Westcountry trio.
Swansea City Spartans will once again keep Welsh women's hockey to the fore as they bid to improve on last term's fourth place.
The regular league season is due to end on the last weekend of March, 30/31, before promotion and relegation play-offs either side of the 2019 Easter holidays.
Men's Hockey League 2018-19
Premier Division
Beeston
Brooklands MU
East Grinstead
Exeter University
Hampstead & Westminster
Holcombe
Reading
Sevenoaks
Surbiton
Wimbledon
Men's Conference West
Cardiff & Met
Chichester
Fareham
Havant
Isca
Olton & West Warwicks
Oxford Hawks
Team Bath Buccaneers
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
Investec Women’s Premier Division 2018-19
Beeston
Bowdon Hightown
Buckingham
Canterbury
Clifton Robinsons
East Grinstead
Holcombe
Slough
Surbiton
University of Birmingham
Women’s Conference West
Barnes
Exe
Gloucester City
Isca University
Olton & West Warwicks
Oxford Hawks
Reading
Stourport
Swansea City Spartans
Trojans (Southampton)
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