With Holcombe earning promotion from Investec Women’s Conference East the way is open for other teams to make a challenge for the top. East Grinstead, who enjoyed a strong first season in the league have made the biggest signing with England international Sophie Bray joining them along with Maddie Tait from Loughborough Students. St Albans also have title aspirations and have recruited internationals Ellie Watton and Hannah Macleod, the latter as player-coach. Bedford are back after five years in the regional leagues and the other newcomers are South champions Maidenhead who are coached by ex-international Jane Smith.

Brooklands Poynton were champions of Investec Conference North in 2013-14 and in their bid to regain the title they see Irish player Sinead McCarthy rejoin after five seasons’ absence. Wakefield, who ran Brooklands close last year, retain the services of international Sally Walton and have signed Katie Hopkisson, formerly of Beeston, who played in the Netherlands last year. Carmen Simpson also joins, from Leicester. Lauren Grundy moves from Wakefield to Loughborough Students and ex-international Jo Ellis who helped Buckingham gain promotion last season joins Ben Rhydding
University of Durham are always amongst the front runners in the division and their latest crop of freshers include Jane Wackett (ex-Olton), Laura Bell (ex-St Albans) and Christabel McWhirter (ex-Ipswich). Relegated Sutton Coldfield have retained most of their squad from last season. Liverpool Sefton and Cannock rejoin the league after just one season away, having won the North and Midlands Leagues respectively.

With Buckingham having finally gained promotion after four successive Investec Conference West titles, a number of teams will be vying for top spot. One of those teams, Slough, have recruited England international Shona McAllin. Trojans have signed American Molly Murphy who played for West Forest University along with Australian Kewley McCaskill who has an Ancestry Visa. Isca will miss the goals of the Division’s top scorer Claire Thomas.

Gloucester City have strengthened their squad including the signings of Jess Dean from Horsham and Sarah Jennings from Sutton. They will enjoy the Golden Valley derby with local rivals Cheltenham who join the league for the first time as West League champions. Relegated Olton will start the season on -1 point, a penalty imposed by the league for their forfeiture of their match at Canterbury in March. Stourport move back to the West Conference after a season in the North where they recorded an impressive fourth place finish.

First weekend of Investec Women’s Hockey League fixtures
Saturday 13 September

Women's Conference West
Bristol Firebrands v Olton & West Warwicks 12:00
Isca University v Cheltenham 12:00
Oxford Hawks v Gloucester City 12:00
Trojans v Slough 12:00
Stourport v Swansea City 13:45

Women's Conference North
Brooklands Poynton v Ben Rhydding 11:45
University of Durham v Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 12:00
Liverpool Sefton v Loughborough Students 12:30
Wakefield v Cannock 13:00
Sutton Coldfield v Kendal 14:00

Women's Conference East
Sevenoaks v East Grinstead 12:00
Bedford v Horsham 13:00
Maidenhead v Harleston Magpies 13:00
Chelmsford v St. Albans 14:00
Wimbledon v Ipswich 14:00