Men’s England Hockey League fixtures announced for 2012-13

The fixtures for the forthcoming Men’s England Hockey League (EHL) season have been announced.

Men’s EHL Champions Reading travel to London to take on Hampstead & Westminster on the opening day of the season, Saturday 15 September, while the side they beat in last season’s Championship decider, East Grinstead, host Surbiton.  Brooklands MU and Canterbury, both of whom return to the Premier Division from the Conferences, face off in Kent on matchday one and Cannock and Beeston meet, having finished fourth and second respectively last season.  Loughborough Students host Southgate in the final fixture.

In Men’s EHL Conference North, Sheffield Hallam, who finished as runners-up to promoted Brooklands MU last season, take on newly promoted Khalsa, who hail from Leamington Spa.  Conference North newcomers Wakefield will host Bowdon, who were relegated from the Premier Division, while Durham University host Doncaster and Belper host Leek.  Preston and Olton & West Warwicks, who finished just four points apart last season, open their new season against one another.

In Men’s EHL Conference West, Team Bath Buccaneers will look to put behind them the disappointment of failing to secure promotion to the top flight after winning the division last season.  They open the new campaign at Cheltenham, who finished eighth. Exeter University drop into Conference West following their relegation from the Premier Division and they host another University side, University of Birmingham, on the opening day. Cardiff & UWIC are at home to Firebrands while Guildford host Havant and Whitchurch travel to Fareham.

In Men’s EHL Conference East, 2012 runners-up Old Loughtonians open 2012-2013 with a home tie against newcomers Richmond, whose home ground at the University of Westminster in Chiswick recently hosted the Investec London Cup.  Wimbledon, who finished just behind Old Loughts last season, host City of Peterborough while Bromley & Beckenham, who finished just one place above the relegation zone, host Indian Gymkhana.  In the day’s final two matches, Oxted visit Holcombe and Cambridge City play host to Teddington. 

Men’s England Hockey League Opening Day Fixtures

15 September 2012

Men’s Premier Division

Loughborough Students v Southgate

East Grinstead v Surbiton

Hampstead & Westminster v Reading

Canterbury v Brooklands MU

Cannock v Beeston

Men’s Conference North

Sheffield Hallam v Khalsa

Durham University v Doncaster

Belper v Leek

Preston v Olton & WW

Wakefield v Bowdon

Men’s Conference West

Cardiff & UWIC v Firebrands

Exeter University v University of Birmingham

Cheltenham v Team Bath Buccaneers

Guildford v Havant

Fareham v Whitchurch

Men’s Conference East

Holcombe v Oxted

Bromley & Beckenham v Indian Gymkhana

Old Loughtonians v Richmond

Cambridge City v Teddington

Wimbledon v City of Peterborough

The full fixture list for the 2012-2012 season can be found at www.englandhockey.co.uk/mensehl