After their best ever season on the pitch in the Men's National League, Brighton and Hove Hockey Club can now celebrate being voted the most hospitable club and most enjoyable to visit this season.

In a poll of National League umpires, Brighton earned the highest overall rating in the Conference East ahead of Old Loughtonians and the champions, Oxted. In comparison, only two Premier League clubs - Holcombe and Sevenoaks - earned higher marks than Brighton.

The umpires were asked to rate clubs in three categories - enjoyment, pre-match and post-match - scoring 7 for excellent, 6 for very good, 5 for good and 4 for average. Brighton averaged 6.18 overall and an outstanding 6.54 for post-match hospitality and atmosphere. The accolade is deserved recognition for the tireless work of Graham and Jenny and their helpers in the kitchen and behind the bar on match days.

Brighton finished fourth in the National League Conference East after a brilliant run of seven successive victories in the second half of the season. They won 10 of their 18 games to finish behind Oxted, Southgate and Teddington and boasted the division's leading goalscorer in Joe Naughalty, with 25.

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