League Address and History
This is my first year as Midlands President and I am very proud to have the opportunity to take on this role especially during this exciting period prior to London 2012.
Hockey has a tremendous opportunity during the next year both to build on previous successes and to capitalise on the ‘Olympic Dream’. The London Olympics in 2012 will provide hockey with a chance to showcase itself at the highest level to a worldwide audience. It will enable everyone to see Hockey of the highest quality and I hope it will inspire more adults and youngsters to take up the game.
We are working in challenging times and the success of Midlands’s hockey would not exist without the huge efforts and commitment from all of our volunteers. We have a strong Regional structure but we continue to rely heavily on the good will of many people. I would like to thank Margaret Thompson and all the members of the Women’s League committee for their dedication and considerable sacrifice of time to make our league’s so successful. Without their contribution Midlands League Hockey would not be in such a strong position.
Another season is upon us and the Midlands should be proud of the number of clubs involved in the England Hockey National Leagues. This season sees the return of Sutton Coldfield Ladies to the Premier Division joining Olton, Leicester, Cannock and Birmingham University.
The Women’s Midland Leagues continue to be highly competitive involving large numbers of hockey players participating at various levels. I would like to thank all those officials and umpires who give up their time every week for your enjoyment. They are vital for the continuation of our game and therefore I hope you will show them respect in the true spirit of the game.
Finally I would like to wish all of you whatever your involvement in hockey a rewarding and successful season.
Sue Williams - President
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A Brief History of the MRHA Women’s League - by Margaret Thompson The Midlands women’s league started back in the 1988-89 season. Up to that point matches were played on a friendly basis only, but with the idea being mooted of a National League it was decided that the Midlands had to have a structure in place for clubs to gain entry into that league. Sally Fisher, who at the time was secretary of the Staffordshire W H A, was the driving force behind this development. A league working party was set up consisting of Ann Clarkson, Sally Fisher, Ros Hardie and Margaret Thompson. It was decided that the clubs to be involved in the Premier League were those who had featured in the Midlands Club Championship in the previous 3 seasons. For the 1st season the other 2 leagues would be of equal status with the bottom club being involved in a play off at the end of the season with the nominated club from each of the nine counties within the midlands. The League would be open to one team only from any of the MCWHA affiliated clubs. In January 1988, it was decided that a committee should be formed as a sub committee of the MWHA council, to undertake the running of the league. This new committee consisted of Sally Fisher (Secretary) Kath Sharman and Clare Byram (Divisional Secretaries), Barbara Jones (Umpires Sec), Ann Clarkson (Players Rep), Margaret Thompson (Arbitrator) and Janet Hopkins would handle all financial details. During the early days the committee meetings were held at Tamworth Service Station and with the cost of coffee one cup had to last a long time! As you can see below the first winners of the Premier League were Leicester Ladies with Sutton Coldfield Runners up. Both teams qualified for the National League’s inaugural season of 1989/90.
Significant league structure changes up to this season 2009/10 1993 Home and Away fixtures introduced Introduction of the C division Bottom 2 clubs will play off with each of the counties nominated clubs 1994 Sue Welch became secretary 1995 Decision taken to enable clubs 2nd XI teams to compete at Midlands level 1998 Player registration cards introduced Qualifying conference league introduced 2000 The Midlands Men’s and Women’s Hockey Associations joined and the league became a sub committee of the MRHA Jen North Became Secretary 2001 Richard Suggett became Treasurer 2007 2 feeder leagues introduced to replace the conference play-off division 2009 onwards Feeder divisions to be designated North/South or East/West depending on the geographic positions of the qualifying teams
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