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.
The inaugural competition was won by Southgate and the top four teams qualified to take part in the Poundstretcher League Cup tournament which was won by Hounslow.
The Men's Hockey Association Cup was won by Hounslow and the Women's Cup (National Club Championship finals) was won by Ealing.
Men's Poundstretcher National League First Division League Standings
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Southgate 15 10 4 1 52 12 40 342 Havant 15 11 1 3 26 8 18 343 Hounslow 15 9 2 4 41 23 18 294 Old Loughtonians 15 7 7 1 37 19 18 285 Indian Gymkhana 15 8 3 4 21 18 3 27 6 Bromley 15 6 5 4 23 19 4 237 Teddington 15 7 2 6 24 23 1 238 East Grinstead 15 6 4 5 22 14 8 229 Slough 15 6 4 5 22 14 8 2210 Welton 15 6 2 7 27 33 -6 2011 Stourport 15 5 4 6 27 25 2 1912 Isca 15 6 0 9 20 37 -17 1813 Harborne 15 4 2 9 18 36 -18 1414 Wakefield 15 3 4 8 14 29 -15 1315 Cambridge City 15 3 1 11 12 32 -20 1016 Warrington 15 0 1 14 10 44 -34 1 = Champions = Qualified for League Cup tournament = Relegated
Men's League Cup Tournament Round Date Team 1 Team 2 Score Semi-final Mar 19 Havant Hounslow 1-2 Semi-final Mar 19 Southgate Old Loughtonians 4-2 Final April 1 Hounslow Southgate 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 Team 1 Team 2 Score Hounslow Slough 3-2 Bromley Old Loughtonians 2-1 aet Isca Teddington 2-0 Havant Neston 5-1
Semi-finals Team 1 Team 2 Score Bromley Havant 1-0 Hounslow Isca 2-0
Final (Held at Old Loughtonians, Chigwell on 12 March) Team 1 Team 2 Score Hounslow Bromley 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)
Group A Pos Team P W D L Pts 1 Sutton Coldfield 4310102 Great Harwood 412153 Chelmsford 411244 Bracknell 411245 Redland 40313
Group B Pos Team P W D L Pts 1 Ealing 422082 Hightown 422083 Leicester 412154 Clifton 412155 Orpington 40040 = Qualified for semi-finals
Semi-finals & Final Round Team 1 Team 2 Score Semi-final Ealing Hightown 7-0 Semi-final Sutton Coldfield Great Harwood 4-1 Final Ealing Sutton Coldfield 1-0
References