England Hockey AGM Update – results of Membership proposal

England Hockey AGM Update – results of Membership proposal and other AGM votes

Over the past few months, we have engaged with clubs across the country to discuss the proposed changes to England Hockey’s Club Membership model. We are incredibly grateful to the nearly 500 clubs that took the time to participate in discussions leading up to the AGM.

At the AGM, which saw the highest attendance since England Hockey’s formation, 315 clubs voted on the proposals.

The weighted and unweighted poll confirmed that 62% of the vote was in favour of the changes.

The breakdown of the results can be seen below. The vote was also favourable when splitting the data by size of club and by Area.

AGM Outcomes

In addition to the approval of the new Club Membership model, we are pleased to share the following decisions:

• Member Elected Non-Executive Director: Congratulations to Janet Grant on being elected to the Board. We also extend our appreciation to all candidates who took part in the process.
• Auditors: The resolution to re-appoint HaysMac as auditors for the coming financial year was approved, ensuring continuity during this period of change.

Club Membership – Moving Forward Together

We want to sincerely thank all clubs for engaging in this process, whether or not you supported the proposal, and we appreciate the time, effort and consideration from you all. We recognise that change can be challenging, and we understand the concerns of those who did not vote in favour. Please know that England Hockey is committed to working alongside all clubs to ensure a smooth transition.

The aim of these changes is to support the long-term growth and sustainability of hockey, bringing our membership model in line with other National Governing Bodies. We truly believe this shift will help make our sport more visible, relevant, and accessible to all. However, we also acknowledge that implementing these changes will take time, and we will be here to support clubs every step of the way.

For a contribution per player per year, these changes will enable us to:

• Provide free essential coaching, officiating, and safeguarding courses to develop the next generation of hockey leaders, ensuring the sport continues to grow.
• Launch a pilot state school hockey programme in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, helping to expand access to the sport. (More details here)
• Increase the visibility of hockey through our ongoing partnership with Channel 4 and free-to-air coverage, which has already driven significant growth in viewership across YouTube and social media.

How We Will Support Clubs

We recognise that clubs will have different needs and timelines in adapting to this new model. England Hockey is committed to working collaboratively with clubs, providing clear guidance and resources to assist in this transition.

A detailed implementation plan for the 2025/26 season is being finalised, and we will be sharing this with clubs in the coming weeks. In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to discuss how these changes impact your club specifically, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at Clubs@EnglandHockey.co.uk.

Thank you again for your engagement and commitment to the future of hockey.