Please see Diary (below) for dates and arrangements for the forthcoming 2012/13 season

Following the area meetings that were held this week the league committee is now in a position to release the provisional league placements for next season. Please see the web handbook and downloads section of the website.

Please be aware these are still draft and subject to final ratification by the league committee in May.

Papers for the forthcoming Davis Wood Hockey League area meetings are now available for download from the 'web handbook and downloads' section of the website.

The first document is the meeting(s) agenda and the second is the proposed rule changes for 2012/13.

The majority of rule changes relate to the league restructuring but there are also changes proposed to the election of area secretaries from 2013/14. There are also important changes proposed to Rule 6.2a and 7.2 that clubs should read closely.

For ease the document is presented with 'tracked changes' so clubs can see exactly where and what the proposed changes are.

As previously advised attendance at these meetings by at least one bona-fide member of each club is mandatory - offering apologies in advance will not negate the risk of a fine and/or points penalty.

Congratulations to Firebrands, who clinched the Championship on the last day of season and will now be playing in the English Hockey League next season, after an absence of three years. After a slow start to the season, Firebrands won their last 15 games to pip Exeter University A by two points.

This year’s area meetings are just around the corner and will be held at the following venues:

16th April 2012 19:30 South Area Meeting @ The Dolphin Hotel Bovey Tracey
17th April 2012 19:30 North Area Meeting @ Old Bristolians Clubhouse, Failands, Bristol
18th April 2012 19:30 South Wales Area Meeting @ Whitchurch Rugby Sports and Social Club, Cardiff

Attendance is mandatory and failure to be represented will incur a penalty that can include club wide a points deduction for the 2012/13 season. This is in accordance with rule 3.2bii. Representation must also be by a bona fide member of the club concerned. It will not be acceptable to ask a member of another club to also attend on a second clubs behalf.

Agenda and accompanying papers will follow in due course and will also be posted on the website.

Follow the league on Twitter - @WoESWHLeague

Tweet results and spread the news of your fixtures, get important updates from the league committee and much more!!

PLEASE NOTE - Tweeting your result to the league does not constitute reporting your result- this still needs to be offically phoned in.

From next season the newly restructured Davis Wood Hockey League will boast a Premiership for the first time. With your input, the league committee have opted for new divisional names for our new-look league structure.

For 2012-2013 the top flight will be known simply as the Davis Wood Hockey League Premiership.

Names have been shortened and strengthened to give a memorable, eye-catching identity to the league pyramid.

The second tier will be called the Championship followed by a third tier Conference North and Conference South.

It was important to you and the committee that regional identity is maintained in next season's new names.

De Cymru and the Marches 1, Central 1 and Southern 1 reflect this in tier four.

Tier five continue the theme with De Cymru and the Marches 2, Central 2 and Southern 2.

We have tried to keep it self explanatory in tiers six and seven.

The six divisions in tier six will be De Cymru 1, The Marches 1, East Central 1, West Central 1, South East 1, South West 1.

Tier seven follows suit: De Cymru 2, The Marches 2, East Central 2, West Central 2, South East 2 and South West 2.

A full pictorial diagram of the league pyramid can be found in the web handbook and downloads section of the website.

The League Committee have produced a document to describe the transition process between the current structure (2011-12) and the new structure (2012-13). This can be viewed in the 'web handbook and downloads' section of the website.

The document also outlines where teams need to finish this season in order to maximise their chances of being placed in the tier and division of their preference in the new arrangements. When considering this clubs are urged to note the league committees caveats to the whole scenario planning exercise as no guarantees can be offered at this stage.

Thanks, in particular, should at this stage go to the re-structuring sub committee of Stuart Richardson, Alison Cook and Andy Harvey for getting things to this stage of clarity.

The West of England and South Wales Hockey League are delighted to announce a new three-year sponsorship deal with Davis Wood Solicitors.

Davis Wood Solicitors has close links with business and private communities in the Bristol area and has expanded its client base to include national institutions. The firm’s aim is to provide legal services for individuals, small to medium size businesses and insurers particularly in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

The firm’s partners Jim Davis and Peter Wood are both keen sportsmen. Jim Davis has been actively involved in hockey for 40 years and is also keen on cricket, golf and tennis. Peter Wood enjoys football, hill walking, sailing and squash. Jim Davis said: “Our firm is delighted to sponsor the West of England and South Wales Hockey League for the next three years.”

Those sentiments are echoed by league chairman Terry Cook, who said: “We are delighted to welcome Davis Wood Solicitors on board as our new sponsors. “Those of you who have fixtures against Bristol UWE may know Jim Davis as he is the club's chairman and liaison officer.”

An immediate benefit of the new sponsorship deal is that club subs will be reduced by £5 per team for the coming season – see administrator Alan Judge’s news story below.

Following the launch of the small grants programme at the three area meetings all the documents relating to the scheme are now available for download from the 'web handbook and downloads' section of the website.

Documents include:
1. Guidance on how to submit a successful application including what is and isnt funded.
2. Terms and conditions of the scheme
3. The application form.

Any questions relating to the scheme should be directed to the League Secretary