Two hockey internationals, including one competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, are set to join the women’s coaching staff at the University of Bath and Team Bath Buccaneers for the 2016-17 season.
John Jackson, captain of the first Ireland hockey team at an Olympic Games since 1908, is set to coach the University Women’s 1st team in British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions, with plans to bring him on board being finalised upon his return from Brazil.
He will also play for Buccaneers’ men in the National League, having transferred across from Premier Division outfit Reading, and be Head of Hockey at Prior Park College in Bath.
Jackson is married to Dr Rachel Arnold, a Sports Psychologist in the University of Bath’s Department of Health – she also plays hockey and is joining Buccaneers’ ladies from Investec Premier League outfit Clifton.
Tyrone Moore, a Level 3 coach who has worked extensively with the Wales team at Senior and U18 level, will be in charge of the Buccaneers ladies’ 1st team as they look to regain a place in the Investec League.
Moore won 57 caps for Wales, representing them at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, and was part of the Great Britain development squad in the build-up to the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
A National Premier League winner with Teddington HC, Moore was player-coach of Whitchurch men in the National League from 2004-2013 and has also been head coach of Wales U18 Girls.
“I am now looking forward to applying my knowledge and experience in coaching Team Bath Ladies and experiencing the journey with them in gaining promotion to the National League,” Moore said.
Nick Kendall, Team Bath Hockey Development Manager, added: “These are key appointments, both for the University and Team Bath Buccaneers, and we hope that having two such high-profile coaches will provide a big push for the ladies’ teams.
“We want the coaches to work together and build on last year when the ladies’ University team did better than in recent seasons. Buccaneers Women’s 1sts finished sixth in the West Premier last season, whilst the University Women’s 1sts were runners-up in the BUCS Premier South Division and went on to reach the quarter-finals of the BUCS Trophy, so there was plenty of promise.
“There also looks to be a strong intake of women’s players starting at the University in September, including a number who have already played in the national Investec League.
“We hope that more of the University players will join the Buccaneers set-up as well. The women’s 1st XI haven’t been in the Investec League for the past four years and Tyrone’s brief is to get them promoted and improve those links.
“We are really looking forward to the season ahead, it should be an exciting one.”
Jody Paul will continue as Head Hockey Coach of both the University and Buccaneers men’s teams.
Training is already under way for the new season and anyone interested in trials with the Buccaneers’ men or women should contact Nick Kendall via [email protected].
