About NPUA

NPUA is the National Programme Umpiring Association, an organisation of volunteers responsible for the umpiring of national level hockey in England. We were formed in 2003 and have since grown to over 150 members. We appoint umpires, assessors and coaches to all national level hockey matches and events, including the indoor and outdoor English Hockey Leagues, the BUCS Premier League and national finals of outdoor and indoor competitions.

In addition, we appoint to international matches in England, and many of our members represent us and their home country internationally, including at major tournaments such as the Olympics and the World Cup.

Our mission statement is to be the most admired hockey umpiring association in the world.

NPUA Executive Committee

The NPUA Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of the association, operationally and financially, as well as managing our relationship with England Hockey.

The Executive Committee also sets and manages the long term strategy of national and international level umpiring in England, in collaboration with the England Hockey Umpire Selection Strategy Committee..

The members of the committee are elected each year by the NPUA membership.

Sean Edwards (Chairman)

Sean Edwards (Chairman)

Sean became NPUA Chairman in 2023 having previously served on the Executive Committee, including four years as Deputy Chairman and three years as Secretary. Sean umpires on the men’s premier panel both indoor and outdoor and is also a member of the FIH Pro League Panel.

Professionally, Sean is a Head of Operations in the music industry, and when not on a hockey pitch, can be found bemoaning the luck of his beloved Ipswich Town.

Gemma Jones (Deputy Chair)

Gemma Jones (Deputy Chair)

Gemma joined the Exec in 2023 to build on the great work done during the first 20 years of the Association by helping to create the best experience possible for all of our members, now and in the future. Gemma represents NPUA as a women’s premier and men’s A panel outdoor umpire and as a coach and assessor. She is also on the FIH Indoor International Elite panel and the EHF outdoor panel.

In her working life, Gemma is a Learning and Development Lead within the Digital, Data, and Technology profession in the UK Civil Service and outside of hockey loves an adventure, whether that be a random long walk in the Lakes (with a drink in the pub at the end!) or her latest holiday!

Richard Kirk (Treasurer)

Richard Kirk (Treasurer)

Richard became Treasurer many years ago and has been looking after our finances since then after previously serving on the Executive Committee in a non-portfolio role. Richard is a National Coach, Assessor and umpire Manager both Indoor and Outdoor having umpired over 300 outdoor games and over 100 indoor matches within NPUA. He has over 100 support appointments since retiring form umpiring. Richard is a Chartered Accountant and when not standing on the side of pitch observing umpires can be found criticising his County Cricket Club’s administration and lack of drive. This is probably compounded by his love of Sunderland AFC who are currently languishing too far down the football League structure.

Richard can be contacted via treasurer@npua.co.uk

Rachel Williams (Secretary)

Rachel Williams (Secretary)

Rachel joined the NPUA committee with the vision to better connect the umpiring team and the playing team. She previously served as the association’s club liaison, where she was the conduit for game day feedback from both coaches and umpires. Rachel is keen to promote a collaborative approach to develop a game experience and overall EHL environment, to showcase the best hockey can offer. She became the association’s secretary in 2021. Rachel enjoys spontaneous adventures and long walks with her pup Trixie.

Rachel can be contacted via secretary@npua.co.uk

Charles Hallows

Charles Hallows

Charles has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2016 and is responsible for managing the association’s pool of radios.  He is a member of the B panel and umpires across both genders, Indoors and Outdoors.

Charles is the CFO for a high tech industrial engineering company and is married with two grown-up children and a not so grown up Springer Spaniel.  In his spare time, he volunteers as a mentor and advocate for disadvantaged children in Somerset.

Jonathan Hull

Jonathan Hull

Jonathan joined the Executive Committee in 2015 and looks after the NPUA online clothing store and fitness testing. Jonathan umpires on the Men’s B panel and Ladies A panel outdoor and also on the Men’s A panel indoor.  He is also working towards his Level 3 umpire coaching award. 

Jonathan is a part-qualified actuary working for an IT & Insurance Consultancy.  Outside of hockey, he likes a glass (or ten) of wine and is currently keeping busy looking after his black Labrador puppy and finding new areas of the countryside to explore. 

David Ellcock

David Ellcock

David has been a member of NPUA since its foundation and umpired over 200 outdoor national league games before retiring from active umpiring. He was an FIH Indoor umpire. He is now an NPUA selector and EH Match Official, and a member of the FIH International Elite Panel of Technical Officials. He is also County Disciplinary Administrator for Cheshire CHA. David became NPUA Chair of Selectors in 2015 having previously been Men’s Premier Panel lead selector and stepped down from Chair of Selectors in 2023.

David is director of a learning and development network in the NHS. His spare time is taken up with visits to the cinema and theatre, and holding forth on Facebook.

AJ Small

AJ Small

AJ has been a member of the Executive Committee in a non-portfolio role since 2019 and has been responsible for helping organise the 2020 virtual conference and has also assisted with the fitness test management and the NPUA Strava club. AJ currently umpires on the Men’s B panel outdoors, Women’s B* panel outdoors and A panel indoors. At the end of the 19/20 season reached 100 outdoor EHL games.

Outside of hockey AJ can be found in the world of data and insight working as a Senior Lead Analyst in the Telecommunications industry

Julian Warburton

Julian Warburton

Julian joined the NPUA committee in October 2021 and is the association’s club liaison officer. Julian umpires on the A panel, outdoor and indoor for both genders, and has recently reached the milestone of 100 outdoor EHL matches.

Outside hockey, Julian works as a Finance Director in the diagnostics industry, and relaxes by walking with his two golden retrievers.

Julian is the first point of call for clubs that have a query, and can be contacted via club.liaison@npua.co.uk

Simon Webb

Simon Webb

Simon joined the NPUA Executive Committee in 2022 and brings experience of umpiring at national level in both England and Belgium, as well as being a member of the International Hockey Press since 2009.

For four years he worked in product development and communication for two major hockey brands. He has experience of working in hockey in England, Scotland, Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Oman. He has extensive experience working in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and has overcome paralysis himself.

Ed Westbrook

Ed Westbrook

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca Edwards

Since joining the NPUA Executive Committee in 2017, Rebecca has been responsible for organising the association’s annual conference. She is a member of the women’s premier panel both indoor & outdoor, as well as the FIH International Elite Panel.

Rebecca is a trainee solicitor at a law firm in London, and has recently taken up golf in her spare time.

Chris Blogg

Chris Blogg

Chris is currently the Men’s appointments Secretary for NPUA Conference as well as being an active umpire both for NPUA and YNE.  His umpiring career followed many years as a goalkeeper at Accomb HC and at Harrogate HC, where he retired from being a goalie, ending as the First team captain.

 

Away from the pitch Chris is an avid Newcastle United fan, as well as being General Manager for UK & Ireland in the aftermarket motor trade, for a team of BDMs – all of which keep him busy. 

Jaime Cox

Jaime Cox

Jaime joined the NPUA Exec in 2023 and has been a member of NPUA since 2017, on as NPDP Umpire, where he currently sits as an umpire on the Mens A Panel. Having been Chairman of Kettering Hockey Club for the last 14 years, he hopes to bring the experience and knowledge he has obtained from club level and dealings with EH to help aid take NPUA into the future. 
Outside of hockey, Jaime has worked in the Medical Industry for over 14 years helping piece people back together and when not at work or hockey, he likes to spend time in the great outdoors with his wife, two young daughters and his German Shorthaired Pointer, Finn.

Selection Committees

EH Umpire Selection Strategy Committee

The England Hockey Umpiring Selection Strategy Committee (SSC) is appointed by the NPUA Executive Committee each year, and is responsible for setting the strategy for national and international level umpiring in England.
The SSC also manages the progression and performance of English umpires at international level, working closely with the European Hockey Federation (EHF) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) to support umpires at the highest levels.

Liz Pelling (Chair, Outdoor Performance Committee)

Liz Pelling (Chair, Outdoor Performance Committee)

Liz has been chairman of the EHUOPC for 5 seasons, and a selector for at least 10. Liz has been coaching, assessing and mentoring in the NPUA since 2003 and is on the FIH International Umpires’ manager panel outdoor and FIH Advancement Panel Indoor. Her love of hockey keeps her busy, and season ’20/’21 is her 6th and final year as a Vice President of England Hockey.

In her spare time, Liz is a Communications Manager in the motor industry, and on the rare weekend when she is not at the side of the hockey pitch, enjoys the company of family, friends and the thrill of a fast car zooming around a racetrack!

Simon Gillet (Chair, Indoor Performance Committee)

Simon Gillet (Chair, Indoor Performance Committee)

Gilly is a familiar face around NPUA having first become a member in 1997.  After umpiring over 250 games in the National Programme he hung up his whistle at the end of the 2013/14 season to concentrate on Umpire Support.  He has been part of Outdoor Performance Committee, with responsibility for the NPDP since its inception in 2014. He became a member of the Indoor Performance Committee in 2015, taking over as Chairman in 2019.  He is also an FIH International Panel Umpire Manager.

Paul Box-Grainger (International Coordinator)

Paul Box-Grainger (International Coordinator)

Box took on the role of International Coordinator in 2015 having previously served as Chairman of Selectors for ten years. He’s now racked up over 200 umpire support appointments for NPUA to go with his 240 appointments as an umpire. He’s an FIH International Elite Panel Umpire Manager and a member of the EHF Appointments Committee.

Box is the owner and Managing Director of Sharp Focus, a video production company specialising in sport, and has made numerous videos for NPUA, including “Aspects of Body Language”, Towards Understanding & Consensus”, and “Verbal Communication Skills”

Outdoor Performance Committee

The NPUA Outdoor Performance Committee (OPC) implements the outdoor umpiring strategy set by the Selection Strategy Committee, and is responsible for managing the performance levels of umpires at all national level outdoor events in England.
The OPC is appointed by the NPUA Executive Committee each year.

Liz Pelling (Chair)

Liz Pelling (Chair)

Liz has been chairman of the EHUOPC for 5 seasons, and a selector for at least 10. Liz has been coaching, assessing and mentoring in the NPUA since 2003 and is on the FIH International Umpires’ manager panel outdoor and FIH Advancement Panel Indoor. Her love of hockey keeps her busy, and season ’20/’21 is her 6th and final year as a Vice President of England Hockey.

In her spare time, Liz is a Communications Manager in the motor industry, and on the rare weekend when she is not at the side of the hockey pitch, enjoys the company of family, friends and the thrill of a fast car zooming around a racetrack!

Lee Barron (Men's B Panel)

Lee Barron (Men's B Panel)

Lee has umpired in the National Programme since 2002 and umpires on the Men’s Premier panels both outdoors and indoors. He is a member of the FIH Indoor International Elite panel, having also umpired the final of the last two Indoor World Cups.
Lee is also a Level 3 coach, and away from hockey works for Siemens PLC, where he is involved in all things trains. He is also a keen golf caddie. 
Dawn Bonner (Women's B Panel)

Dawn Bonner (Women's B Panel)

Dawn Bonner was appointed B Panel Selector in 2019 after being the Coach and Assessor Co-ordinator for the previous 2 years. Dawn has been an Umpire Coach/Assessor/Umpire Manager for about 10 years nationally and has been on the FIH International Umpire Managers list since 2015.

Dawn is an Indirect Procurement Sourcing Manager for a Commercial Insurance company in the City and has been a Liverpool FC supporter for over 40 years.

TBC (Men's C Panel)

TBC (Men's C Panel)

Debbie Garner (Women's C Panel)

Debbie Garner (Women's C Panel)

Debbie became Women’s C Panel Lead in 2019, balancing this role with her commitments to the East region as an umpire selector. Before stepping down from umpiring league hockey, she umpired over 200 National League games, both indoor and outdoor and now helps out with school hockey, keeping her in touch with education since her retirement from teaching. She also is actively involved in technical officiating for England Hockey and World Masters Hockey.

Away from hockey, Debbie enjoys visiting art galleries and exhibitions and renovating her wild garden.

Suzanne Howard (Women's A Panel)

Suzanne Howard (Women's A Panel)

Louise Knipe (Women's Premier Panel)

Louise Knipe (Women's Premier Panel)

Tony Kelleher (Men's Premier Panel)

Tony Kelleher (Men's Premier Panel)

TK umpired for 21 years on the Men’s Premier League, racking up over 300 National League in the process. He was also an International Grade 1 umpire both outdoors & indoors. Since hanging up the whistle he has progressed to be an EHF & FIH Umpire Manager, as well as serving as an NPUA selector for many years. TK has been a driving instructor for the last 10 years.

Gary Stent (Men's A Panel)

Gary Stent (Men's A Panel)

Gary is now in his 4th season as a selector on NPUA, having been an assessor and coach for both NPUA and SCHUA for a further 10 years. Gary’s umpiring experience is in all levels from county up to the national premier panel, prior to the formation of NPUA.

Gary works as a project manager in construction and his interests away from the hockey pitch include his allotment to keep him fed.

Indoor Performance Committee

The NPUA Indoor Performance Committee (IPC) implements the indoor umpiring strategy set by the Selection Strategy Committee, and is responsible for managing the performance levels of umpires at all national level indoor events in England.
The IPC is appointed by the NPUA Executive Committee each year.

IPC Minutes

28 January / 18 April 2023

 

Simon Gillett (Chairman)

Simon Gillett (Chairman)

“Gilly” is a familiar face around NPUA having first become a member in 1997. After umpiring over 250 games in the National Programme he hung up his whistle at the end of the 2013/14 season to concentrate on Umpire Support. He became a member of the Indoor Performance Committee in 2015, taking over as Chairman in 2019. He is also an FIH International Panel Umpire Manager.
Frances Block

Frances Block

Frances retired from umpiring in 2018 after a stellar umpiring career which included umpiring at the London 2012 Olympic Games, 2 World Cups, Commonwealth Games and 2 Indoor World Cups. Frances was a member of the Executive Committee in a non-portfolio role for a few years and is now part of the umpire support community within NPUA. She became an Indoor Selector in 2019 and is working towards becoming an EHF UM.
Frances was a sixth form teacher for many years and currently works in a primary school as a Sport & PE Technician. She enjoys spending time with her family; her son Fin is about to start secondary school and is the GK for Brighton & Hove HC juniors.
Ann Hopkins

Ann Hopkins

Richard Kirk

Richard Kirk

Richard is a National Coach, Assessor and Umpire Manager both Indoor and Outdoor having umpired over 300 outdoor games and over 100 indoor matches within NPUA. He has over 100 support appointments since retiring form umpiring and has been an indoor selector since 2019. He has worked tirelessly within his Regional Association since 1989 undertaking various administration roles for them. Richard is a Chartered Accountant and when not standing on the side of pitch observing umpires can be found criticising his County Cricket Club’s administration and lack of drive. This is probably compounded by his love of Sunderland AFC who are currently languishing too far down the football league structure.

Nick White

Nick White

Nick has been a consistently high-performing umpire at the top level for many years, with over 200 indoor and outdoor national league matches to his name, as well as a number of national indoor finals. Internationally, Nick reached International Grade 1 level as an indoor umpire. Nick has been an indoor selector since 2017.