Press reports will normally be placed here weekly throughout the season and many thanks go to Gaynor Nash, who also submits them to Tuesday's Leicester Mercury.

Sept 29th - MIXED FORTUNES FOR LEICESTER IN OPENING GAMES OF THE SEASON

  A much-changed Leicester side took the field for the opening Slazenger EHL match of the new season. Having surrendered last season the EHL title held for the previous three, the same problem of missing Great Britain stars still beset the side, but this year some of the absences will be more long-term. Play maker, Helen Richardson, is now in Holland, playing for perennial European club champions Den Bosch. She is joined by Rebecca Herbert who has a contract with Kampong in Utrecht; Herbert just missed out on a place in the final Olympic squad of 16, having trained with GB all year. Anne Panter is taking time off hockey to go travelling and Crista Cullen is recovering from a serious wrist injury that she played through at Beijing. Jennie Bimson's Olympics and international hockey career ended with injury at Beijing but the club hopes she will return to club hockey before too long.

  On the plus side the club has recruited several talented players and held on to others: England and GB training party member Kerry Williams is still in Leicester colours; GB player Chloe Rogers has moved from Chelmsford and is joined by Welsh international Sophie Robinson from Beeston, Lucy Barrett and Claire Schulze.

  With Leicester top scorer, Hannah MacLeod, out of action with a back injury there were several newcomers in instant action down at Canterbury. Many players, old and new, looked a little nervy and Canterbury had much of the game with old heads like Mel Clewlow looking very assured. That Canterbury failed to score was due in no small measure to an excellent showing from new keeper, Claire Schulze. Leicester finished the game the stronger having a goal bound shot cleared off the line in the last few minutes. The 0-0 draw is a solid enough start to the League season but coach Chris Mayer will be hoping for much more when his side takes on Poynton next Sunday at Leicester Grammar School, Great Glen (12.30 start).

  Leicester 2nd team is defending the Midlands Premier crown and got off to a decent start against Northampton with a 1-0 win. The 2nds is a much-changed side too. New coach Andy Fairbrother has lost 5 of his squad, replacing them principally with players from the 3rd team. It was one of last year's regulars, Lilla Paynter, who scored the goal, a superb effort which saw her hold off two challengers in a run from half way before smashing the ball past the keeper.

  It is Leicester's 3rds which is the most decimated side at the club. Almost all of last year's squad has left for university or been promoted to the 2nds. Trying to create a team from scratch is never easy and it showed as Leicester lost their opening Midlands Conference East game 6-1 at Players.

  Many of the new 3rd team players have come up from Leicester 4ths so once again the club has to start again with its 4ths in Leicestershire Premier. Leicester led 1-0 against Half Century through Sophie Yell's well-taken goal just after half time but a defensive mix up led to an equaliser, Leicester camped in their opponent's circle for the last five minutes but just could not score the winner.

   All the player movement upwards at the club was always going to have an impact upon Leicester's 5th team. Fielding a range of players from 13 to 53 years of age they went down 7-0 to a strong and physical Leicester university side.

 The club offers congratulations  to 5 players selected to play against Germany in Hamburg this week. Hannah MacLeod, Gemma Darrington, Abi Harper, Katie Long and Kerry Williams play two Tests on 2nd and 3rd October. Three Leicester players have been selected for the GB Youth Games Training Squad preparing for the Youth Games in Australia in 2009; they are Sophie Robinson, Katie Long and Lauren Turner.