Club updates: September 2025

With fixtures already underway, the ELHC Executive Committee convened in September to ensure a smooth start to the season and to prepare for an exciting year ahead.

The club has managed to keep the cost of subs the same as last season despite rising pitch hire costs across all venues, making ELHC one of the most affordable hockey clubs in London. 

The committee is actively exploring alternative pitch venues for the slim remainder of fixtures not confirmed later in the season,  to help keep costs down throughout the season. A reminder that applications for concessionary rates close on Friday 26th September. Please do reach out if you need to.

Thanks to a very generous sponsorship, the club is planning to maintain current fee levels for youth players. This is despite funding being cut by Tower Hamlets as budgets come under strain. More updates on this to come!

Protective kit for performance teams was approved, and work has started to formalise policies around club kit and keeper gear. These updates aim to ensure consistency across the club.

England Hockey registration is progressing, with a deadline set for the end of October. Captains will know that all players must be registered on GMS in order to be eligible to play in matches.

Recruitment is underway for a second Fixtures Secretary to help manage logistics across multiple pitch locations, as well as for an additional Youth Officer to support the junior section. 

Planning for the End of Season Dinner is in full swing, with the social team exploring venue options and ticketing. 

The event will also mark the club’s 35th anniversary, with discussions ongoing about different ways in which to commemorate this significant event next year. A new logo will be shared soon, so watch this space!

The club’s updated Equality and Diversity Policy has been signed off and will be published on the website in due course. 

Finally, we regret to inform you that the Exec has decided to reduce the women’s side of the club from nine to eight teams, dropping the W9s. 

This means that players will naturally flow up through the teams to ensure we have full squads. 

This difficult decision was made in consultation with team captains, and the committee will be working on future recruitment and retention strategies.