Each year, every club has to pay membership fees to EH. As you may recall two years ago EH started reviewing its fees and carried out a consultation process with clubs. We contributed to the feedback given to EH who modified the proposals in the light of comments.

In brief, EH identified that their fees were significantly lower than those charged by other sporting bodies and that individual players were not really aware of what the fees cover or what benefits clubs and their members receive through EH membership other than entry to competitions.

Revised charging structure

For 2024/25 EH charged clubs based on the number of their league teams. From 2025/26 onwards EH charged based on:
(a) The number of teams; plus
(b) The number of playing members of the club.

This continues for this season.

As Neil has mentioned, we have been able to keep our membership fees unchanged for 2026/27. Thank you to everyone who has already paid their membership fees. If you have not as yet paid please do so before the start of the season so that you are eligible for selection.

EH expected clubs to pass on the additional cost to members but we were fortunate to be able to avoid the impact on members.

This is just to remind members to take advantage of the new benefits offered by England hockey>

New benefits for club members

1. Personal accident cover for all members (we had paid extra for this for members);
2. A National Hockey Fund to support State school programmes;
3. Free access to essential courses in coaching, officiating and safeguarding which would include:
(a) Coaching courses and workshops covering:
- Introduction to hockey;
- Engaging games for children;
- Coaching club players;
- Integrating goalkeepers;
- Sessional coach course;
- Coaching conversations.
(b) Officiating courses and workshops covering:
- Introduction to umpiring;
- Umpiring level 1 course.
(c) Safeguarding and Safe Hockey modules will include;
- Basic safeguarding module;
- Hockey safeguarding module;
- Time to Listen (compulsory for identified club roles such as Welfare officers);
- Safe hockey;
4. Free to air hockey through a new partnership with Channel 4.
5. Priority offers for tickets as well as potential discounts.
6. Partner benefits which will be publicised separately.
This is the link to the EH website if you would like to read more about the background to the proposals and the new benefits.

Please do take advantage of the courses now available for free.