Men's Area Masters Championships 2025

This summer Area Masters hosted 17 competitions across the country, including the WO70 friendly 7 a-side. More teams than ever took part. A total of 123 teams and over 2,000 players. Huge thanks to all the host clubs and tournament delivery teams including organisers, directors, umpires and match officials. We couldn’t have delivered these tournaments without you.

MO35

Southgate HC hosted this age group where the first day was dominated by the Midlands, topping the table with three good wins and a healthy goal difference. However, on Sunday they lost both of their games, including the game that swung the event in favour of the East.

The East team won four of their six games, clinching the trophy two points ahead of runners-up West. Congratulations to the West.

The London captain suffered a nasty stick to the head injury on Saturday, which delayed a match by 30 minutes, but was well enough to make an appearance swathed in bandages just before the event wrapped up, to warm applause from all. A super tournament that is now open to 34 year olds anf going from strength to strength.

MO40

At Old Loughtonians the Midlands put down a strong marker straight away winning 4-0 against London. East won 3-1 against South Central and South East won 4-1 against Yorkshire & North East. The West and North West draw 2-2.

The West survived extensive pressure against the East to win 2-0 and South Central beat North West 1-0.

Midlands won again against Yorkshire & North East 5-1 and the South East won 1-0. London and East drew 0-0 and Midlands beat South Central 3-0. With the rain pouring down, North West and Yorkshire & North East played out a goalless draw whilst South East scored 3 to beat the West.

East then beat South East 2-1 and London beat South Central 3-2.  As the heavens opened again Midlands dominated against the North West and the West also scored six against Yorkshire & North East.

Teams then enjoyed a delicious hog roast and each other’s company at the clubhouse in the evening.

On Sunday there was no rain all day and the cool conditions were perfect on what could have been a very hot summer’s day.

North West lost the early game 5-1 to the South East and London beat Yorkshire & North East 3-1.

A feisty 1-1 draw between East and the Midlands was followed by the West beating South Central 2-0. East were straight back in action against Yorkshire & North East and drew 0-0. 

London continued their good day two form winning 4-0 against North West. South Central upset the form book beating South East 2-0.

Midlands then had a close fought win against West and South Central and Yorkshire & North East played out a 0-0 draw. East beat North West 2-0. Midlands came from behind to win 3-2 against South East.

The spectators on pitch 1 were treated to a very tight contest between London and the West. way. London taking the points 1-0 which meant they finished as runners up, South East were 3rd on goal difference above East in 4th and West in 5^th. The Midlands were the tournament winners with South Central 6^th and Yorkshire & North East 7^th, and the North West 8^th. An excellent tournament, enjoyed by all.

MO45

A great weekend of hockey at Basingstoke HC, friendship and sunny weather. Everyone arrived in good spirits. The competition on the pitch was fierce and the standard of hockey played was excellent all weekend. The BBQ went well on Saturday and it was lovely to see teams mingling together. 

We were fortunate to have Keely Dunn who watched every game and discussed the games afterwards with umpires. Umpires and match officials were all lovely.

The final day was interesting with Midlands and London running ahead, the last 2 matches had the new bronze medals at stake, with South Central needing to win, which they did and the West to lose or draw, West scored late on and so secured the bronze. The weekend ended with quite a few players staying for a beer in the sunshine before departing home. 

MO50

The MO50 was hosted by the Nottingham Hockey Centre and the home Midlands team proved to be unbeatable with 7/7 wins. The South East were 2^nd losing a close fought match 1-2 to the Midlands. London were 3^rd winning 5 matches losing only to the Midlands and the South East. South Central picked up 4^th place followed by the East in 5^th and the West in 6^th place. The North West and Yorkshire & the North East came 7^th and 8^th. A really good, competitive weekend of hockey with lots of friendships between players in different Areas rekindled.

MO55

Lovely weather and a cold wind helped provide great conditions for hockey at Wakefield HC. The competition was fierce and games close and hard fought. Midlands had the best of the first day in which 50% of the matches ended in draws – but the schedule was a little kind to them in giving them games against East, North West and South East which were second of consecutive games for their opponents. South East – the competition’s draw specialists – still held them to a 0-0 draw and their only dropped points of the weekend. At the end of the first day Midlands were on 10 points; East on 7, North West and South Central on 5 and London and South East both on 4. So, while Midlands had to slip up to lose the gold, everyone else could get to bronze or even silver……

South East started well on day 2 with an early win but East squeezed a late winner against South Central to stay in second place. Midlands won both of their consecutive games to keep in pole position and as we went into the last games for all the teams, it was clear that Midlands were champs and East had the silver. But the last games of the day would determine the destination of the bronze medals with North West able to take bronze if they won their game v East and South East lost to West. North West did their bit by beating East 1-0 but South East did not slip up against West winning 3-1.

So, Champions were Midlands – with only 2 points dropped; East in silver and South East – unbeaten but with too many draws – took bronze.

MO60

No really warm or hot conditions this weekend at Timperley HC, instead several showers with the concern over some thundery conditions that were forecast. Fortunately, these did not materialize on either day, and the weather improved as the weekend went on, enabling all matches to be completed according to the schedule.

On Saturday, despite allegedly being slightly understrength, Midlands secured 2 early, but narrow victories with the South East not far behind with a win and a draw. Good starts were also made by Yorkshire & NE and West with one win apiece. 

The Midlands then secured their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable win over the West and just pipped the North West in the final game of the day. Whilst the South East repeated their morning performance with another win and a draw and maintained their second place overnight. This still meant they trailed the leaders by 4 points. The West in third, again won 1 and drew 1 in the afternoon but still found themselves 6 points behind the leaders.

Sunday started with the Midlands therefore, only needing one win from their remaining 2 matches to retain the trophy, and sure enough an easy 3-0 win against London in the first match of the day was enough. With the West also winning their first match of the day, it seemed a battle for the silver medal was on, especially when the South East then lost their penultimate match to the Midlands (finishing with 6 wins out of 6).  But the West then came up against an overnight revitalised NW team, who having just beaten Y & NE then inflicted a 3-0 defeat on them as well. With the South East also beating London 4-1 in the final match of the day, it meant the West had to settle for the bronze medal. Well done to the Midlands.

MO65

At Bristol after some dire weather warnings we were blessed with excellent weather for the weekend – not too hot and no rain! The tournament went well with the TD and his team of MO’s working well with the managers on the pitch.

The North West were victorious with 5 wins and two draws with Yorkshire & North East and the Midlands. In second place were the Midlands with four wins and two draws. They were followed by the West in third place with four straight wins. Congratulations to the medallists who were followed by the East in fourth place, Yorkshire & North East in 5^th, London in sixth, the South East in seventh and South Central in eighth. A good weekend was had by all.

MO70

What an amazing weekend we had at Guildford HC: 125 athletes over seventy years of age, each competing in 7 matches over two days.  A real testament to the fitness and training of all who took part. The great British weather played its part: a torrential downpour on Saturday forced the Tournament Organisers to intervene and re-schedule the last two matches, and then suntan lotion was required for Sunday!

 By Saturday evening the scoreboard showed it was still all to play for, but that didn’t stop the majority of teams attending a ⁠⁠very sociable dinner in Guildford’s Clubhouse, with live music and even some dancing.

 On Sunday the ⁠⁠serious hockey continued: lots of competitive spirit, but with very few cards.  The top goal scorer was the brilliant Bill Davidson from East with 5, and we had three players who scored 3 goals: Patti from London, Tim Smith from East, and Tony Taig from Northwest (a hatrick !). In the end:

• West came 3^rd (but only on goal difference)
• South Central played superbly on Sunday to move into 2^nd, and
• East were deserved winners

MO75

At the top end of our men’s age group the MO75 tournament was held at sunny Bournemouth HC in South Central on the Coast. Five teams participated. A joint North team - North West and Yorkshire & North East team, and a joint London, South Central and South East team, West East and Midlands.

London-SC-SE kicked the competition off with a 5-0 win against the West followed by the North and the East holding each other to a 0-0 draw. The Midlands then played London-SC-SE. A a very close 1-1 draw the result. The East then beat the West 1-0 and the Midlands beat the North 2-0. So all to play for on the Sunday with London-SC-SE edging to the top of the table with 2 wins.

Sunday started with the West beating the Midlands 3-0 and London-SC-SE edging the East with a 1-0 win. The West then had a further win beating the North 4-1, followed by a 1-1 draw between the East and the Midlands. In the final match London-SC-SE beat the North 3-0 giving them the gold medal with 3 wins and a draw. The West were 2^nd, with the East 3^rd on goal difference from the Midlands and the North were 5^th. Well done to all players in a competitive and fun weekend.