Previews Across the EHL

Relegated Southgate start life in Open/Men's Division One South with a Saturday evening game against Teddington. Last year’s runners up Guildford also play Saturday, against promoted Hampstead & Westminster 2s as do Surbiton 2s who welcome Old Loughtonians. On Sunday there is West London derby as Richmond travel to Indian Gymkhana and West Conference champions Clifton Robinsons play host to Sevenoaks. 
 
In Division One North Nottingham University face Repton on Saturday evening and earlier in the day, relegated Brooklands MU are off to Harborne. On the Sunday the two promoted sides both start with home games. Leeds host Loughborough Students and Leek welcome Birmingham University. Timperley and Durham University who also meet on Sunday  both flirted with the drop last season and both ended just above the relegation places on 16 points. 
 
Saturday sees a cross Pennines match-up between promoted teams Sheffield University Bankers and Brooklands MU 2s in Conference North. Brooklands return to the league after a season’s absence but for Bankers it’s been sixteen season’s since they last played at this level.  Relegated Deeside Ramblers host Sheffield and Didsbury Northern travel with their women's team to play at Newcastle University. On Sunday Neston, who finished second last time round welcome Durham University 2s and Doncaster face Lindum.   
 
In Conference Midlands Another team returning to the EHL after a long absence is Blueharts, twenty-five season’s after relegation to the East League. They host Nottingham University 2s on Sunday, when all matches in the Division are being played. Last year’s runners up Oxford Hawks go to another new team, Nottingham Trent University. Relegated Olton & West Warwicks travel East to Norwich City. St Albans host Banbury and City of Peterborough play Barford Tigers. 
 
Promoted Richmond 2s start their EHL journey with a home game against Spencer on Saturday. Southgate 2s also play Bromley & Beckenham then. Sunday sees relegated Canterbury travel to Oxted 2s, promoted as Soth East Area champions.  Old Cranleighan welcome London Wayfarers and Chelmsford host Holcombe 2s. 
 
Bristol Firebrands return to Conference West for the first time since 2013. They welcome Exeter University 2s who travel up the M5 for a Saturday evening fixture.  Trojans last played at this level in 1997 but a 100% winning season in the South Central league last time round means they join their women's team in Conference West. They have a tough opening encounter against least years runners up Marlow, who were just three goals shy of top spot. Elsewhere on the South Coast Chichester host Fareham and relegated Havant welcome Team Bath Buccaneers. Cardiff & Met 2s face Ashmoor.  

The England Hockey League returns to action this weekend with matches in all Divisions except the top flight which starts next weekend. For Division One and Conference teams  there are ten rounds of matches ending in the last weekend of November with no fixtures on 24-25 October. 
 
In Women's Division One North Clifton Robinsons will be looking to make an immediate return to the Premier Division after their relegation last season This is the only the second season they have played outside of the top Division since its inception in 1989. They start with a short trip up the M5 to play Gloucester City who missed out on promotion on goal difference at the end of the 2025-26 season. Promoted Leicester City also have a local derby as they welcome Loughborough Students 2s to  St Margarets and Bowdon 2s, who won Conference North last season, welcome fellow North West side Pendle Forest. Leeds, who stayed up by a point travel to Beeston and Sitton Coldfield and Ben Rhydding who were mid table level on 25 points meet at Wyndley.        
 
Relegated after one season Barnes return to Division One South action with a trip to Southgate. The two promoted sides both face away trips. Team Bath Buccaneers make the long trip to Holcombe whilst Old Loughtonians travel to Surbiton 2s. Last year’s runners up Exeter University face a West Country derby at Bristol Firebrands and Sevenoaks host Reading 2s. 
 
In Conference West two teams returning to the league after winning their Area Leagues meet as Witney play Penarth. Witney were out of the league for just one season whilst Penarth last played at this level in 2022-23. With no team relegated to the Division Oxford Hawks, who were third in Conference Midlands move laterally and welcome Cardiff & Met who were third in the West last year. Runners up Trojans play host to Marlow and Slough, who stayed up on goals scored, are at home to Lansdown. Exeter travel to Oxford University. 
 
After a tough season in Division One South relegated Harleston Magpies will be looking to stabilise in Conference Midlands. They host Bedford who return to the EHL at the first attempt as East Area winners. Stourport who avoided the drop with a win on the final day of last season travel to Birmingham University 2s who were runners up to Leicester. Promoted Nottingham University 2s take on student counterparts Cambridge. Nottingham Trent University welcome relegated Olton & West Warwicks. Cambridge City host St Albans.    
 
North East Area champions City of York start their EHL journey with a trip over the Pennines to last year’s second placed Alderley Edge. Timperley return after two seasons’ absence and face Durham University 2s. Relegated Repton welcome Whitley Bay & Tynemouth, Fylde host Kirkby Stephen and Didsbury Northern make the long trip to Newcastle University.  
 
Old Georgians were pipped to the 2025-26 Conference East title on goal difference. Their quest to go one better starts with a trip to Canterbury. Third placed Hampstead & Westminster visit relegated Guildford, who by dropping into the Conferences meant their 2s were relegated in place of reprieved Wimbledon 2s. Wimbledon travel to Southgate 2s,  promoted as London Area winners.   South East Area winners East Grinstead 2s start their first EHL campaign with the visit of London Wayfarers.  Spencer host Barnes 2s.