Mark is hugely experienced in the sport as both a player and coach and is currently working with the Australian senior teams. During his time there, Australia have won Commonwealth gold and World Cup silver medals, with their goalkeeper Rachael Lynch named player of the tournament in the 2014 World Cup and also nominated for world goalkeeper of the year. Earlier in his career he coached at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in Spain for three years.

As an athlete he kept goal for Australia for almost a decade, winning Olympic gold in Athens in 2004, World Cup silver in 2002 and two Commonwealth golds.

Educated as both a Master of High Performance Sport and Master of Business Administration, he will bring great skills both on and off the pitch. His is a newly-created role designed to target and accelerate the development of world-class senior goalkeepers, develop an over-supply of world-class goalkeepers within the Great Britain Elite Development Programme and set in place a strategic direction for goalkeeper coaching across the nation.

Performance Director Ed Barney commented, “We are absolutely delighted that Mark is joining England and Great Britain Hockey. Strategic leadership and impact in performance goalkeeping is critical to our short- and long-term international success.

“It has been a delight to engage with Mark through the recruitment process. He will be a huge asset to England and Great Britain Hockey. He is well known around the international circuit and is exceptionally well regarded in every sense. Mark will bring a sound, robust and impactful coaching pedagogy, combined with great technical skills and knowledge and real leadership to these areas.

“Having a national goalkeeping lead for the first time in England and Great Britain is a hugely exciting and we look forward to working with and supporting Mark and our goalkeeping ambitions over the coming years. It will be an exciting time as Mark works with the senior goalkeepers, EDP and develops resources, content and a network of coaches across the UK.

“It is important to take the time to offer a huge thank you to John Hurst, Tom Millington and Chris Hibbert. They have all done a great job and committed a huge amount of time, expertise and resource to the development of our goalkeepers over the past 18 months (and a little bit longer for John Hurst!). This has been hugely valued and a critical aspect of the programme since the Rio Olympics and over previous cycles.”

Men’s Head Coach Danny Kerry said, “I’m delighted we have managed to secure Mark to this role. In the years of coming across Mark in his roles for Australia I have always been struck by how smart, thoughtful, humble and approachable he has been. Mark is the right person as we build an excellent support team around our athletes and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

New women’s Head Coach Mark Hager said, “Having seen how Mark has developed goalkeepers into world class athletes, he will be a huge asset to the program and I am very excited that he is coming in. He is a person with a very high work ethic and drive to develop the goalkeepers on and off the field. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge with him, not only from a specialist coach role but he will also strengthen the program from a tactical point of view. I am very much looking forward to working with Mark on the journey to Tokyo and beyond.”

Courtesy of Great Britain Hockey 

Despite their position, Canterbury’s form has been improving and they led against Surbiton last weekend before falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat.

A win this weekend could see them close the gap to the rest of the teams in the bottom four to just one point, and give them hope of climbing up the table when the season resumes in February.

“We took a lot of encouragement from our last performance,” said Canterbury official Gill Prince. “But not only from that – we are making improvements week-on-week and hope to continue this in Saturday’s game against Clifton Robinsons.

“It is crucial to win the last match and keep pace with the other teams. It is important for our confidence to go into the Christmas break within touching-distance of the teams ahead of us.

“We are looking to continue to improve our connections and processes during the indoor season and use that to strengthen our performances in the second half of the outdoor season.”

Elsewhere leaders Surbiton have a home game against Beeston, while second-placed Holcombe entertain the University of Birmingham as they try to keep pace with Surbiton.

Second-bottom Bowdon Hightown have a home game against Buckingham, while East Grinstead face Slough in the other top flight match.

In the Investec Women’s Conference West, runaway leaders Stourport will be aiming to make it nine league wins in a row when they go to Trojans, while second-placed Swansea City have a home game against bottom of the table Exe.

Leaders Loughborough Students have an away game at Timperley in the Investec Women’s Conference North, while Leicester go to Ben Rhydding for a match that could see them go top if Loughborough drop points.

And in the Investec Women’s Conference East third-placed Harleston Magpies host leaders Hampstead and Westminster, who are just three points ahead.

Wimbledon are second in the East, and could go top if they beat visitors Southgate and other results go in their favour.

FIXTURES

Saturday, 24 November 2018

Investec Women’s Hockey League

Premier Division

Clifton Robinsons v Canterbury 13:00

Bowdon Hightown v Buckingham 13:45

Holcombe v Univ of Birmingham 14:00

East Grinstead v Slough 16:00

Surbiton v Beeston 16:00

Conference East

St Albans v Cambridge City 13:00

Bedford v Sevenoaks 13:30

Harleston Magpies v Hampstead & Westminster 13:30

Ipswich v Horsham 14:00

Wimbledon v Southgate 14:00

Conference North

Univ of Durham v Brooklands-Poynton 12:00

Belper v Leeds 12:00

Timperley v Loughborough Students 12:30

Sutton Coldfield v Fylde 12:30

Ben Rhydding v Leicester 13:30

Conference West

Isca v Olton & West Warwicks 12:00

Barnes v Gloucester City 12:00

Oxford Hawks v Reading 12:00

Swansea City v Exe 12:00

Trojans v Stourport 12:00

Courtesy of England Hockey 

Aimee from Tonbridge Performance Centre (Photo: England Hockey)

Performance Centres are the top tier of the England Hockey Player Pathway. The 17 Performance Centres across the country provide the country’s best U15 and U17 players with a high-quality experience to support them to reach their potential. To find out more about the Player Pathway, please click here.

Sally Mapley, Player Pathway Manager said; “We are really excited to share these, especially with our Player Pathway athletes hoping to reach the top of the sport.Through these unique videos we wanted to engage and educate the athletes, and all their support network, about the attitude and commitment needed to reach their full potential.

“We have recently changed the delivery of our Player Pathway and after the first full year of the Performance Centre cycle realised that we needed to communicate to players and parents in all levels of the pathway what commitment was required to attend our performance centres and fulfil the athlete’s potential.

Photo: England Hockey

“We have approximately 15,000 players in the pathway and wanted to engage with them through a platform that they were very familiar with. We hope that the suite of videos will be both informational and aspirational.”

In the first film in the series we meet Yuvraj from the Nottingham Performance Centre and hear about his journey in the Player Pathway and his aspirations for the future. The second video Aimee, from Tonbridge Performance Centre shares her drive to be the best player she can and the challenges she encounters.

There are three different stories from current Performance Centre players about their journey through the Player Pathway and their aspirations for the future. The third video will be shared on Friday 19 October.

Courtesy of England Hockey

]]> http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2018/09/23/investec-hockey-league-results-23-september/ Sun, 23 Sep 2018 10:40:16 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=27229 Continue Reading →

With more than 27 years’ worth of experience at the forefront of business in this country and overseas, she will bring her acumen and insight to England Hockey as we drive forward with our vision of creating a Nation Where Hockey Matters. With England Hockey hosting the Women’s Hockey World Cup in London in 2018, the appointment of a businesswoman of Kate’s stature will only serve to advance our sport even further.

Kate has been listed among the 50 most powerful women in international business and is an award-winning CEO, having transformed the fortunes of WH Smith before becoming CEO at SSP Group plc, a global food and beverage business with a £2billion turnover.

England Hockey Non-Executive Chairman Royston Hoggarth said, “On behalf of the board of directors I would like to officially welcome Kate to England Hockey. We are very fortunate to have her offer her insight, expertise and drive to our sport.  Her career speaks for itself and she is rightly regarded as one of the leading businesswomen in this country.

“Kate’s appointment comes at a time when our sport continues to grow exponentially; last year we successfully hosted the Unibet EuroHockey Championships and then the Hockey Champions Trophy just last month. With the men’s World League next year and the Women’s Hockey World Cup in 2018, Kate’s arrival can only further heighten our potential for growth and represents a considerable coup for us as a sport.”

Kate Swann said, “I feel very honoured to be joining the board of England Hockey and look forward enormously to working with Royston, Chief Executive Sally Munday and the team. England Hockey has already made great strides, both in terms of major events but also with regards to participation across all ages. As a passionate hockey fan I look forward to helping shape our strategy going forward.”

Women’s World Cup 2018
England Hockey hosts the Women’s Hockey World Cup in London in the summer of 2018, with the world’s best teams competing for one of the most prestigious titles in hockey at our Olympic legacy venue the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. A number of corporate opportunities are available including title sponsorship, if you would like to discuss further please contact Graham Swanson on Graham.Swanson@englandhockey.co.uk / 01628 897520.

Kate Swann Biography
Kate took up the role of CEO at SSP Group plc in September 2013 following 10 years as CEO of WH Smith. SSP is a £2bn turnover food & beverage business operating in 30 countries around the world. In July 2014 SSP listed on the London Stock Exchange and was voted new company of the year at the PLC awards.

During Kate’s decade at WH Smith the business was transformed into a business primarily focussed on travel retail. The financial performance of the business during Kate’s tenure led to her being awarded the Daily Telegraph Award for a decade of excellence in Business at the National Business Awards and the Chairman’s Special Award for contribution to turnaround from the Institute for Turnaround. In 2006 Fortune Magazine listed Kate as amongst the 50 most powerful women in business internationally.

Prior to WH Smith Kate was Managing Director of Argos, the UK’s leading general merchandise retailer. Kate joined Argos in December 2000 from Homebase Ltd, where she was promoted to Managing Director after three years with the company.

She began her career at Tesco in 1989 as a graduate trainee and throughout her career, held a number of senior marketing roles within retail and FMCG Companies at Homepride Foods, Coca Cola and Dixons Group plc.

She graduated from the University of Bradford with a degree in Business Management in 1986 and was awarded an honorary degree from Bradford in 2007. In 2015 Kate was announced as the new Chancellor of the University of Bradford having sat on its advisory board for the previous 8 years.

Kate has held a number of Non-Executive positions during her career including at British Land PLC and Babcock PLC.

Report courtesy of England Hockey

Lee Valley Hockey Centre (Photo: Action Images / Peter Cziborra)

Launched in July 2011, the partnership has delivered great success for both parties during a period which has seen women’s hockey scale new heights. Medals at several major championships, including a bronze at London 2012 and a gold at last summer’s Unibet EuroHockey Championships, have been complimented by an upsurge in participation.  A 77% increase in junior girls club players, allied with growth across other age groups, has led to a 39% overall increase in women’s club participation since 2011.

Investec’s Richard Harris said: “Hockey is a sport that reflects our values and witnessing the passion, skill and commitment of the elite players over the last four years has been a great privilege. I am delighted that our support has enabled England Hockey to put on more events, helping to showcase the sport and its athletes, and engage a wider audience with the sport. We look forward to working with England Hockey to take hockey even further over the next four years.”

The four year extension of the partnership will boost Great Britain and England Hockey in continuing to deliver international success, grow the visibility of the game and inspire more people to take part. The agreement maintains Investec’s position as Principal Partner of the Great Britain and England Women’s teams, Women’s Hockey League, Schools Championships for girls, and Investec London Cup – an international invitational tournament.

It is a very exciting period for women’s hockey with England Hockey hosting world level events such as the Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy this June and the Women’s Hockey World Cup in 2018, all at the new home of hockey – Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

England Hockey Chief Executive Sally Munday said “Investec’s support of women’s hockey has been extraordinary.  They have helped us take our work at all levels of the game significantly further forward, and we are much closer to our vision of a ‘Nation Where Hockey Matters’ than in 2011. With the women’s Hockey Champions Trophy this summer and the Hockey World Cup in 2018 we have a fantastic opportunity to continue our work with Investec and engage even more people in the women’s game.”

You can share and view the Investec #OurJourney video  here and here.

Report courtesy of England Hockey