Sat 22 Nov, 2008
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England: Higgins Group PLC to sponsor indoor hockey  x17
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| Higgins Group PLC |
December 20, 2002 
English Hockey Association
> Page Views 2335
Hockey England Ltd is delighted to announce that Higgins Group PLC have agreed to sponsor its indoor competitions programme. The sponsorship is for three seasons starting in the New Year and will cover the following competitions.
Higgins Group Indoor English Hockey League - 11/12 & 18/19 January 2003
Men's Premier Division - The Glades, Kidderminster
Women's Premier Division - The Edge, Haslemere
Men's Division One (South) - East Grinstead Sports Club
Men's Division One (North) - Lilleshall National Sports Centre
Women's Division One (South) - Larkhill, Salisbury
Women's Division One (North) - Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield
Higgins Group Indoor Club Championships - Crystal Palace NSC, 31 January 2003
Featuring the top four teams in the Men's and Women's Premier Divisions playing off to represent England in the European Indoor Club Championships
Higgins Group Junior Indoor National Championships for Girls - Perdiswell,
Worcester, 24-26 January 2003.
This includes Under 16 and U18 competitions.
Higgins Group Indoor National Championships for Boys - The Glades,
Kidderminster, 25-26 January 2003.
This includes Under 16 and U18 competitions.
The sponsorship will be used to develop and promote the indoor game and participating teams will see a direct benefit with a reduction in entry fees.
In announcing the news Stewart Newton, Chairman of Hockey England Ltd states " We are delighted that the Higgins Group has agreed to sponsor our indoor programme where hockey is in the shop window. After a difficult time for the sport this is a tremendous way to end the year. The confidence they have shown in Hockey England shows the progress we have made."
“Of course, I am delighted to be able to support the sport at this national level, especially as it will also benefit future talent through the junior championships,” said the founding Joint Chairman of Higgins Group PLC, Derek Higgins OBE, FCIOB. “Sport is a great catalyst for developing the essential character of the communities built by firms like ourselves”.
Higgins is a leading name in housebuilding, estate regeneration and property refurbishment throughout London and the South East. Hockey is one of a number of sports where Higgins has been involved in grass roots initiatives – particularly where young people are concerned.
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Comments on this article
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Hockey Fan
12-22-2002 8:08 am
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With the establishment of HEL, next Hockey Stadium moves to Brighton.
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Lap Star
12-22-2002 1:40 pm
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Is the sponsorship under the condition that Old Loughts are automatically granted a bye to Finals Night?
Higgins tried to sponsor the outdoor league if Old Loughts could get pushed up to the Premier League by increasing the number of teams - pathetic. They're going back up anyway
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hockey fan
12-24-2002 4:07 am
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hockey fans out there
i wish to make a copyright on the name hockey fan! I have been using it for a long time but now other people are copying it! Unacceptable!! Think up your own names cos i want to keep my individuality and so people recognise my comments.
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hockey fan
12-24-2002 4:13 am
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national leagues
why does the the league not have a sponsor for the national outdoor leagues????????????????????
It would be a big money spinner for the ehl or hel or whatever! Lets try and make the sport more commercially acceptable! Its not as if the national league is small - every club aspires to try and acheive national league status!!!
final point - why isnt the premier league expanded to maybe 15 teams? the other divisions should also be expanded by another 2 teams! If say 1 extra team per season is added it would cause minimal disruption!
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Lap Star who?
12-24-2002 2:03 pm
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What does Lap Star think he is on? The Higgins Group is a plc and therefore can only do things which would be in the interest of the company and its shareholders. The Higgins Group have been very good supporters of youth hockey and provide oppurtunities to many youngsters. Its amazing that people can be so shallow. Just because the Higgins group happen to be the sponsors of one of the most successful hockey clubs does not mean that they cannot sponsor other tournaments. Perhaps there should be a little bit less of the green eyed monster. Trying to suggest that Loughts will not get there on merit given their record is also rather naive.
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Lap Star
12-27-2002 9:42 am
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They would have sponsored the outdoor leagues if there was restructures to 12 teams meaning Old Loughts would have re-joined the Premier league. When no restructure would take place, sponsorship offer was withdrawn...that's shallow! Everyone knows that the top league is better smaller, less games for the internationals, but higher standard of games. There are enough poor teams in the premier league already without adding two more
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Lap Star who?
12-30-2002 4:25 am
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Yet again you fail to see the point. Higgins have been sponsors of hockey, probably long before you were even born. Just because they have a tie-up with Old Loughtonians doesn't mean they can't sponsor other leagues, or indeed other clubs, as they have in the past.
I know for a fact that the co-chairman of the company got his MBE for his fundraising activities and support for the youth game in the East End and Essex.
The sponsorship offer was a package offered to the HA and not just to get OLs back into the premier division. The idea to make the league more competitive has been touted by the HA themselves: see the review that is underway at the moment. Many people believe that hockey shouldnt be dominated by the top 4 clubs in this country and the only way to improve the game for everyone is to increase the amount of teams playing at a higher level, so we can increase the exposure to better hockey.
You clearly have heard only half the story. You should get the whole facts before making what can only be described as naive comments. Dont try to take away from the work of the HA (or its replacement bodies) in bringing outside funding to the sport. Constructive criticism will help improve our sport but not little back biting.
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interested
01-03-2003 12:30 pm
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im sure lap star would be happy with just 4 sides in the top devision so that the "top" teams could play strength against strength. why not see the bigger picture and relize that youngsters and aspiring players want to and need to play against the internationals. this is the only way they can see what is needed to play at the top level. why dont more top english players move to germany or holland if they want to improve their game? maybe you should lap star as it sounds like you need a challenge that the english league cant give you !
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Lap Star who?
01-06-2003 2:48 am
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Oh dear, you didnt think you would be eating your words did you? We see the Old Loughtonians won their fourth successive title at the DTZ invitational tournament beating some of the classiest English sides. Perhaps next time you will back your statements up with some facts.
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JON
01-09-2003 3:35 pm
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CLASSIEST ENGLISH SIDES? WEREN'T READING & CANNOCK IN BARCELONA? WELL DONE OLD LOUGHTS ANYWAY, YOU MUST BE REALLY PROUD. GOOD LUCK IN THE LEAGUE, KEEP GOING
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John B
01-14-2003 3:06 am
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It's all well and good winning the DTZ invitational tournament, but isn't the league the important event?
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Lap Star
01-20-2003 4:58 am
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ohh dear Lap Star Who!!
yeah i'm really eating my words now!!! Old Loughts DID win the micky mouse DTZ but did they not get relega
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Anon.
01-20-2003 1:38 pm
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THE PLAY OFFS
Loughborough may have won the league but this counts for nothing! they will lose to canterbury in the semi final and guildford will win the final and go to europe AGAIN! what do you all think?
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Whitey
01-21-2003 6:09 am
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Loughborough will win the playoffs. They were far better than any other side over the two weekends. If Guildford win it will be a real travesty purely because we could do with a team in Europe that have a chance of getting promoted. I think St Albans may even beat them in the semi.
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Wally
01-21-2003 6:45 pm
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Loughborough
I was playing for Hull at the indoor this weekend and Loughborough are by far the best side there! Every one should root for them in the playoffs because they are, as Whitey points out our best chance of winning some medals in europe! Guidlford were shocking until Nick tatlor played for them and the "best" indoor side in the country cant just revolve around one player!! Come on Loughborough! we're all rooting for you!
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Giles Cadman
01-24-2003 1:00 pm
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League Re-Structure
Derek and myself were accused of offering cash to increase the league to 12 or 14. Neither of us did so.
The only way our International sides will improve is if our 16-20 year olds get the opportunity to play against the best sides. 14 teams gives a full league programme and when the internationals are away less impact occurs. It also encourages the top teams to play their bench boys against the weaker sides. Games should continue with or without the internationals. Before you say it this is not so Southgate could get back into the top league, it is for the good of Hockey. I think there should only be two leagues though. Plus no automatic promotion, there should be a 6 team play off with the top three going up. Held at the same time as the Premier Play off, more exposure more spectators, more cash!
What happened to OL at the premier indoor.
The rule makers certainly screwed us though, based on last year we would now be promoted, the South group according to the umpires was much stronger.
Go the Students! I am a big fan of the students, just hope they don't bottle it, AGAIN
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hockey fan
02-04-2003 5:14 am
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Cadman
Cadman saw southgatew player other day.Never been so bored oin my life.Duncan woods should be banished to the 2nds.Try playing sexy hockey like Loughborough and Surbiton.
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