Welcome to our annual round up of the 10 most read stories of the last year
1.Hockey captain jailed for six years over fake business fraud
In January, a Slough men’s hockey captain was jailed for fraud offences after swindling over £3m from family and friends to fund his gambling addiction.
2.Surbiton respond to England Hockey Cup withdrawals
A final failed to be played for the first time in the near 50-year history of the English women’s knockout cup after Surbiton withdrew from the competition.
3.Hockey needs to be more professional’ – Yibbi Jansen on being a brand and banned headbands
At the EuroHockey, should Jansen have come up against a team wearing white then the Dutch powerhitter was forbidden to wear her trademark white adidas headband.
4.Biba Mills: Meet the 16-year-old rising star of English club hockey
Despite her accolades, East Grinstead and England U21 star Biba Mills remained grounded as she spoke to THP in her first interview.
5.Is England Hockey set up as a ‘graduates programme’?
In the GB Hockey programme, we have seen players (straight out of university) come in and, in some cases, trial mid-Olympic cycle for a period of months without pay.
6.England Hockey Premier Division: A season of neglect
What will it take for the Premier Division to be taken seriously at Bisham Abbey? We asked in May
7.England Hockey ‘not afraid to make tough decisions’ after EuroHockey pain
England Hockey’s new performance director spoke to us on EuroHockey review, home nations and English coaching standards
8.‘We’ve done without it for 99 years’: Calls to end ‘throwing equipment’ rule in hockey
The red card shown to Den Bosch captain Pien Sanders during a top-flight match with SCHC in October reignited fierce debate around world hockey’s Rule 9.16.
9.Hell of a ride’: At 40, Richmond forward finally marks Premier Division debut
“I don’t want to be the older guy in the corner being in the way,” said Josh Smith, Richmond’s one-club player who finally tasted Premier Division hockey last season after 20 remarkable years of trying.
10.Hockey’s 3G pitch plight: The clubs affected in the UK
Since we launched our coverage of 3G pitches, correspondence with clubs across the UK has grown with tales of clubs battling to retain hockey provision.
