1988–89 England Hockey League season explained

The 1988–89 English Hockey League season took place from October 1988 until April 1989.

A new league format was introduced to English hockey whereby two divisions of sixteen teams would compete in the first and second divisions with promotion and relegation. This replaced the previous format of regional leagues. The Men's National League attracted a sponsor in Poundstretcher and they would commit £300,000 over three years.^[1]

The inaugural competition was won by Southgate^[2] and the top four teams qualified to take part in the Poundstretcher League Cup tournament which was won by Hounslow.^[3]

The Men's Hockey Association Cup was won by Hounslow^[4] and the Women's Cup (National Club Championship finals) was won by Ealing.^{[5] [6]}

Men's Poundstretcher National League First Division League Standings

^[7]

width=20	Pos	width=400	Team	width=20	P	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=20	F	width=20	A	width=20	GD	width=20	Pts
1		15	10	4	1	52	12	40	34
2		15	11	1	3	26	8	18	34
3		15	9	2	4	41	23	18	29
4		15	7	7	1	37	19	18	28
5		15	8	3	4	21	18	3	27
6		15	6	5	4	23	19	4	23
7		15	7	2	6	24	23	1	23
8		15	6	4	5	22	14	8	22
9		15	6	4	5	22	14	8	22
10		15	6	2	7	27	33	-6	20
11		15	5	4	6	27	25	2	19
12		15	6	0	9	20	37	-17	18
13		15	4	2	9	18	36	-18	14
14		15	3	4	8	14	29	-15	13
15		15	3	1	11	12	32	-20	10
16		15	0	1	14	10	44	-34	1

	= Champions
	= Qualified for League Cup tournament
	= Relegated

Men's League Cup Tournament

width=100	Round	width=100	Date	width=200	Team 1	width=200	Team 2	width=120	Score
Semi-final [8]	Mar 19			1-2
Semi-final [9]	Mar 19			4-2
Final [10]	April 1			2-2 (4-3 p)

Hounslow
Veryan Pappin, Simon Hazlitt, Mike Williamson (Tony Diamond sub), Guy Swayne, Jon Potter, David Hacker, Nick Gordon, Andy Ferns, Jon Rees, Robert Thompson, Martyn Grimley
Southgate
Simon Rees, Peter Boxell, Richard Dodds, Mike Spray, James Duthie, Nick Clark, Robert Clift, Steve Batchelor, Paul Moulton (Soma Singh sub), Rupert Welch, Sean Kerly

Men's Nationwide Anglia Cup (Hockey Association Cup)

Quarter-finals

width=200	Team 1	width=200	Team 2	width=100	Score
		align=center	3-2
		align=center	2-1 aet
		align=center	2-0
		align=center	5-1

Semi-finals

width=200	Team 1	width=200	Team 2	width=100	Score
		align=center	1-0
		align=center	2-0

Final

(Held at Old Loughtonians, Chigwell on 12 March)

width=200	Team 1	width=200	Team 2	width=100	Score
		align=center	2-1

Hounslow
Veryan Pappin, Simon Hazlitt, Mike Williamson, Jon Potter, Guy Swayne, Jon Rees, David Hacker, Martyn Grimley, Andy Ferns, Robert Thompson, Parmi Soor
Bromley
Craig Winter, Miles Richards, Andy King, Jon Gurney, Graeme Barnett, David Coombes, Matthew Cross, Mark Hunnisett, Neil Berry, Darren Willis, Jimmy Henderson

Women's Cup (National Club Championship finals)

(Held at Southampton from 22–23 April)^[11]

Group A

width=20	Pos	width=400	Team	width=20	P	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=20	Pts
1		4	3	1	0	10
2		4	1	2	1	5
3	Chelmsford	4	1	1	2	4
4	Bracknell	4	1	1	2	4
5	Redland	4	0	3	1	3

Group B

width=20	Pos	width=400	Team	width=20	P	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=20	Pts
1	Ealing	4	2	2	0	8
2		4	2	2	0	8
3		4	1	2	1	5
4		4	1	2	1	5
5		4	0	0	4	0

= Qualified for semi-finals

Semi-finals & Final

width=100	Round	width=200	Team 1	width=200	Team 2	width=120	Score
Semi-final			7-0
Semi-final			4-1
Final			1-0

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sydney Friskin. "Format designed to raise the domestic standards." Times [London, England] 14 Oct. 1988]. The Times.
2. Web site: Sydney Friskin. "Batchelor scales heights to Europe." Times [London, England] 6 Mar. 1989]. The Times.
3. Web site: Sydney Friskin. "Hounslow achieve final reward for adventurous spirit." Times [London, England] 3 Apr. 1989]. The Times.
4. Web site: Sydney Friskin. "Hounslow expand their horizon." Times [London, England] 13 Mar. 1989]. The Times.
5. Web site: "Wimbledon victorious." Times [London, England] 7 Apr. 1989]. The Times.
6. Web site: "Ealing retain title through goal by Green." Times [London, England] 24 Apr. 1989]. The Times.
7. Web site: "For the Record." Times [London, England] 6 Mar. 1989]. The Times.
8. Web site: Sydney Friskin. "Southgate hold out as Havant Just fail to save their season." Times [London, England] 20 Mar. 1989]. The Times.
9. Web site: Sydney Friskin. "Southgate hold out as Havant Just fail to save their season." Times [London, England] 20 Mar. 1989]. The Times.
10. Web site: Sydney Friskin. "Hounslow achieve final reward for adventurous spirit." Times [London, England] 3 Apr. 1989]. The Times.
11. Web site: "For the Record." Times [London, England] 24 Apr. 1989]. The Times.