Wednesday, April 23, 2025

England Hockey Premier Division: After Olympics, focus on clubs and funding

Eight years ago on manic deadline, I sent a national newspaper report minutes after Team GB women’s spectacular gold with the final line: “Top flight clubs with names such as Holcombe, Surbiton and Bowdon Hightown will not know what has hit them.”

Referring to the potential boost on the domestic game and Premier Division, this of course has yet to come to fruition. The English top flight profile has remained in the shadows ever since. And so we reach another season – one which will start without a returning Olympic medal since 2008 after consistent women’s success on the world stage.

Which begs the question: How will this affect Great Britain hockey’s Olympic funding allocation for Los Angeles? Could it be a seismic shortfall? “The most wasteful extravagance was the £13.69m lavished for no reward whatsoever on – wait for it – hockey,” wrote The Sun newspaper last month on the subject. 

Continue reading...

Unlock ALL our premium content for 3 months for only £1...and get use of our subscriber-only app for a better reading experience.

Simply select Monthly or Yearly subscription and use coupon 3FOR1 when prompted.

Already a subscriber to our website? Login

Hockey Factory Shop

spot_img

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More from Author

Farce and intrigue: The sorry decline of Pakistan hockey

The Big Read The Hockey Paper charts the decline and political shenanigans...

‘Constant pressure’: Durham University hail historic England Hockey top tier status

With Beeston breathing down their necks all season and the club...

Barnes women taste title success and Premier Division promotion

Barnes women recorded a major milestone as they confirmed their passage...

How club players will help England Hockey free-to-air TV vision

England Hockey says its vision for free-to-air hockey left the national...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img