NPUA Conference 2021

13 May 2021

Coach and Assessor Convergence Session

13 May 2021

FIH Pro League Debuts

Congratulations to NPUA members and English international umpires Hannah Harrison and Paul Walker, who both made their debut in the FIH Pro League this evening, umpiring the fixtures between Great Britain and Germany.

12 May 2021

New Vice President of England Hockey

Congratulations to our very own Dawn Bonner, who this week was elected as Vice President of England Hockey. Dawn is an active member of NPUA as a coach and assessor, as well as being a member of our Outdoor Performance Committee.

18 March 2021

New Appointments Coordinator

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Rob Jenkins as Appointments Coordinator for Premier & Division 1. Rob has been a member of NPUA for many years, umpiring nearly 400 national league games to date, as well as serving as a coach, assessor and previously as a member of the outdoor performance committee. Rob will replace Colin Barthorpe, who is standing down at the end of this season after a new of years in the role. 

6 February 2021

Proving failure leads to success

Thanks to England Hockey for this fantastic article profiling NPUA member and current holder of the Chris Todd Umpire Support Award, Dawn Bonner: Dawn Bonner’s Umpiring Journey – Proving Failure leads to Success

21 December 2020

Coach & assessor webinar

On Wednesday 2nd December, two of our top International Umpire Managers are hosting an online webinar for our coaches and assessors. Margaret Hunnaball and Louise Knipe will be sharing the knowledge they have gained from working at the top level!

30 November 2020

Stop the count!

Congratulations to Robert Brownbridge who recently umpired his 200th National League match. A great achievement – well done Robert!

7 November 2020

The unrecognised key of the game

Thanks to England Hockey for this great article profiling three of our umpires: The unrecognised key of the game

21 October 2020

New umpiring shirts dispatched

The new umpiring shirts have just been dispatched; look out for yours being delivered int he next few days. Thanks as always to our partners at Specialist Sports

25 September 2020

NPUA Conference 2020

Thanks to everyone who attended this year’s virtual NPUA Conference; with over 110 attendees each day it was our biggest event ever! A special thanks to all of our presenters, as well as our friends at Sharp Focus for their support in producing the event.

6 September 2020

NPUA Annual Awards 2020

Tonight our members had a fantastic evening celebrating our success at our annual awards evening. Over 100 members joined the event to congratulate our NPDP graduates and our award winners:

Chris Todd Umpire Support Award: Dawn Bonner
Indoor Umpire of the Year: Sean Edwards
Graham Nash Trophy for Outdoor Umpire of the Year: Gill Lord

4 September 2020

Guest presenters announced for 2020 NPUA Conference

The Executive Committee is delighted to announce the guest presenters for this year’s virtual event. As well as our high-quality internal speakers, we’ll also be hearing from England & GB International Brendan Creed, former England cricketer turned Sky Sports presenter Rob Key, plus former England cricket & hockey player & coach Jane Powell. it promises to be a great event!

4 September 2020

International umpiring success

Congratulations to Jake Charles on his recent promotion to FIH International Outdoor Umpire, and to Isaac Charles on his promotion to FIH International Indoor Umpire. You can read more about these fantastic achievements here

28 July 2020

International umpire management success

Congratulations to Liz Pelling who was recently promoted to the FIH Indoor Advancement Panel as an Umpire Manager, a brilliant achievement!

28 July 2020

Our annual awards are: The Graham Nash Trophy for Outdoor Umpire of the Year, the Indoor Umpire of the Year and the Chris Todd Award for Umpire Support.

Occasionally we also present our special awards; the NPUA Special Merit Award and The Julia Gill Lifetime Achievement Award.

Honorary Vice Presidents

2018      Peter Worrall

2013      Peter Halliday

2006     John Gawley, MBE

Julia Gill Lifetime Achievement Award

2019 Liz Pelling

2019 Jackie Gibbs

2018 Frances Block

2018 John Litchfield

2017 Hamish Jamson

2016 Richard Kirk

2016 Geoff Blakeman

2015 Val Sassall

2012 Julia Gill

2010 Andy Mair

2009 Colin Barthorpe

2008 Louise Knipe

2007 David Lane

2006 John Gawley, MBE

2006 Paul Box-Grainger

2005 Frank Lockhart

2005 Peter Halliday

NPUA Special Merit Award

2016 Terry Norwood

2015 Sarah Bush

2014 Hannah Harrison

2014 Carol Unwin

2013 David Dowdall

2011 Julia Gill

2010 Val Sassall

2009 Hamish Jamson

2008 Richard Wood

2007 Bridget Midwinter

2006 Peter Stiven

2005 James O’Hara

2005 Margaret Hunnaball

Outdoor Umpire of the Year, The Graham Nash Trophy

2020 Gill Lord

2019 Lee Barron

2018 James Barnes

2017 Matt Harrison

2016 Gareth Perry

2015 Tim Benford

2014 Rob Argent

2013 Hamish Jamson

2012 Matt Harrison

2011 Stuart Baxter

2010 Lili James

2009 Hamish Jamson

Indoor Umpire of the Year

2020 Sean Edwards

2019 Lia Waine

2018 Rebecca Woodcock

2017 Andy Poulain

2016 Gemma Jones

2015 Frances Block

2015 Lee Barron

2014 Rob Jenkins

2013 Tim Benford

2012 Nick White

2011 Sarah Bush

2010 Lili James

The Chris Todd Award for Umpire Support

2020 Dawn Bonner

2019 Liz Pelling

2018 Margaret Hunnaball

2017 David Ellcock

2016 Louise Knipe

2015 John Litchfield

2014 Tony Kelleher

2013 Jane Nockolds

2012 Barry Anderson

2011 Liz Pelling