EH Talent Academy Launch

We are thrilled to be licensed to run the Talent Academy on behalf of players, clubs, schools, counties and other hockey establishments in our catchment area.

Our objective is to create an Academy of elite hockey players from this area, some of whom will progress through the ranks of the EH Talent system to represent their Country. The TA will benefit all players as well as their schools, clubs and wherever their future hockey takes them. To help us achieve our objective we have put together a program which will push as many players as possible in the local area to be the best they can be.

First and foremost, this requires hard work and dedication from the players. To be the best, they must take responsibility for their commitment to themselves - a positive attitude to training and learning, an ability to organise their time to enable study, clear communication with their guardians, teachers and coaches etc. In order to support them, we have assembled a great team of coaches and mentors, who are looking forward to their role within the Academy.

Our Director of Talent Academy is Mary Booth. Mary has a history in hockey dating back a few years. She has been involved in coaching juniors at every level of the national pathways, has brought hockey to school children in her capacity as a teacher and has taken East Grinstead Ladies 1^st XI from local league hockey through to their current position in the Investec Premiership (which they would have won for the last 2 years if it wasn't for COVID) and European Hockey. Mary is responsible for the coaching program at the Talent Academy and her incredible experience will be massively valuable.

Acting as Head of Talent Academy is Wesley Jackson. Wes himself has played hockey at the highest level, both as a junior and adult. Wes also has an incredible coaching career, previously in charge of hockey at Lingfield College, Wes is currently coaching various A teams at Whitgift School and has had incredible success. Wes is also partner in the Jackson 7 hockey academy business with his brother Ashley Jackson, and this experience means our Talent Academy operations will work like clockwork.

While Mary & Wesley will oversee the program, we have also been so lucky to secure fantastic TA Lead Coaches, Rob Sorrell & Will Heywood and Chris Borsoi as Lead GK coach.

Will Heywood has an incredible coaching history. Coaching at Exeter University then starting his career at Malborough College, Will has moved into pathway coaching including Head coach at the Southampton Performance Centre and on the England Hockey DiSE team. Will is Director of Hockey at Brighton College and is an incredible asset to the Talent Academy.

Rob Sorrell also has a fantastic coaching history. After university & club coaching, Rob has spent time in Holland, coaching junior and adult teams at Kampong. Since returning to the UK Rob has an amazing history coaching at all stages of the previous pathway model, including county, HIPAC, Performance Centre and National Age Group. Rob has just moved to the area to take on the Director of Hockey role at Hurst.

Goal-keepers are super fortunate to have Chris Borsoi as their lead coach. Chris has a strong hockey pedigree, playing and coaching at Brighton & Hove, coaching in the EH pathway, coaching at great hockey schools in the area including now being Head of Hockey at Roedean.

Rob, Will, Chris & Wes are all on the England Hockey ACP (Advanced Coaching Program) and combined with Mary's experience, make a phenomenal team.

More information:

More information on the program can be found on our website: https://eghockey.co.uk/our-club/talent-academy