Find out more about our experienced coaches below.
Alan Forsyth
Ladies 1s Assistant Coach & Colts coach
Name:
Alan Forsyth
Nickname:
Aldo
From:
Paisley, Scotland
Plays for:
Surbiton M1s, Scotland/GB
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2013
What coaching roles do you have at the club?
Ladies 1s Forwards coach & Colts coach
What’s the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?
Enjoy it!
Arjan Drayton-Chana
Colts coach
Name:
Arjan Drayton-Chana
From:
Cannock
Plays for:
Surbiton Men’s 1s
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2016
What’s the best thing about the coaching structure at SHC?
How many kids are down at the club playing hockey every evening and Sunday
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Showing the colts skills and then seeing them develop and use them in games
What’s the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?
Just be yourself
Ben Boon
U16 Boys Performance coach & other age groups
Name:
Ben Boon
Nickname:
Boonie
From:
New Forest, Hampshire
Plays for:
Surbiton M1s
When did you start coaching at SHC?
May 2018
What coaching roles do you have at the club?
Club Coach for various age groups but mostly for the U16 Boys Performance
What do you think is the best or most unique thing about the colts / coaching structure at SHC?
The exposure to top international players who coach across all age groups. It's incredibly unique.
Brendan Creed
Men's 2's Head Coach
Name:
Brendan Creed
Nickname:
Creedy
From:
Solihull
Plays for:
Surbiton M1s, England/GB
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2016
What coaching roles do you have at the club?
Men’s 2s Coach
What’s the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?
Sometimes you need to give yourself a break
Eloise Stenner
Colts coach
Name:
Eloise Stenner
From:
South London
Plays for:
Surbiton Ladies 1s
When did you start coaching at SHC?
I helped on Sundays when I was 15 or 16 but this is my first proper year of coaching at the club having returned after university.
What do you think is the best or most unique thing about the coaching structure at SHC?
Access to coaches who have gone through the Surbiton Colts set up themselves and have had success from it, so have a great understanding of how to make it work.
What’s the best piece of advice a coach has ever given you?
However high up the system you get, never stop enjoying just playing!
Emily Guckian
Colts Coach
Name:
Emily Guckian
From:
Surrey
Plays for:
Surbiton Ladies 1s
Started coaching at SHC:
2019
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Watching players take on advice and use it in the game
Fred Mannering
Colts Coach, SHC Men's Coach
Name:
Fred Mannering
Nickname:
Freddie
From:
Kingston-Upon-Thames
Plays for:
Men’s 3As Captain
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2015
What do you think is the most unique thing about the coaching structure at SHC?
The most unique thing is definitely the sheer number of players that come down to play hockey each week. Having coached in other sporting programmes, it’s so brilliant to have so many different characters come down and bring a unique experience for us coaches, as well as the other players.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Seeing the players’ hard work pay off. When you see them progress as a player with a massive smile on on their face that’s the most rewarding aspect of coaching.
What’s the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?
Always give it everything, but never go past the point where you’re not enjoying it. That’s where you start to love your love of the game.
Hannah Denison
Colts coach
Name:
Hannah Denison
From:
Lancaster
Plays for:
Ladies 2s Captain
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2015
What’s the best thing about the coaching structure at SHC?
Having so many dedicated members of coaching staff from GB and all levels, all of whom are there to get the best out of every colt no matter what level they play at.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Having good fun relationships with the colts and seeing them become great people as well as developing their game.
What’s the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?
Don’t overthink it - just play the game and have confidence in your own ability
James Gall
Colts coach and occasional men's 2's coach
Name:
James Gall
Nickname:
Jamma
From:
Essex
Plays for:
Surbiton M1s, England & Great Britain
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2013
What coaching roles do you have at the club?
Colts coach and occasional men’s 2nd XI
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Being able to help someone to improve or learn something new and the excitement and happiness that can create
Jamie Golden
Colts coach
Name:
Jamie Golden
Nickname:
J
From:
Dundee, Scotland
Plays for:
Men’s 1s, Scotland U21 & GB U21
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2020
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
I love seeing the kids improve, be happy with how they are developing and seeing them do something they were never able to do before.
What’s the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?
To be better than yesterday
Luke Taylor
Colts coach
Name:
Luke Taylor
Nickname:
Lukey or Tails
From:
East Grinstead
Plays for:
Surbiton M1s, England/GB
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2017/18 season
What coaching roles do you have at the club?
Various junior teams and camps
What’s your most memorable moment as a Surbiton coach?
There isn’t just one, it’s just a buzz to be around!
Meg Dowthwaite
Colts Coach
Name:
Meg Dowthwaite
From:
Weybridge
Plays for:
Surbiton Ladies 1s
Started coaching at SHC:
2020
What do you think is the most unique thing about Colts coaching at SHC?
The vast amount of Colts that come to Surbiton and want to play here. It shows how fantastic the club is as a whole and makes you want to continue adding to the success of the club.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
I love seeing the Colts develop a growing passion for the game as they progress through the age groups at the club, as well as getting to know all of their unique personalities!
What’s the best advice a coach ever gave you?
Remember to have fun!
Rory Hogan
Colts Coach
Name:
Rory Hogan
From:
Leatherhead
Plays for:
Surbiton Men’s 5s Captain
When did you started coaching at SHC?
2012
What’s the best or most unique thing about the Colts at SHC?
The fact that everyone wants to beat us or join us. Everywhere I go if I mention I coach Surbiton Colts, they know the level and the pedigree of the club.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
The kids! It's amazing how many characters you get in every team and it's great watching them grow and develop as players and as people, it's a pleasure to coach them.
What’s your top tip?
A bad attitude gets you nowhere, you can be the most talented player in the world but a coach will much rather work with a player who wants to improve and work hard for the team.
Tarek Abdulla
u12 Girls, Ladies 4-9s & Back 2 Hockey coach
Name:
Tarek Abdulla
From:
Morden
Coach at SHC since:
2015
What coaching roles do you have at the club?
Girls Under 12, Ladies 5-9s, Back 2 Hockey and video for the L1s.
What do you think is the best or most unique thing about the Colts programme at SHC?
It's so inclusive. Everyone is offered a midweek session and a Sunday match, whereas at a lot of clubs only academy players access midweek training. The club also has a great outreach programme, giving access to kids who would not normally have the chance to play.
Tom Sorsby
Colts and Ladies 3s Head Coach
Name:
Tom Sorsby
Nickname:
Sors
From:
Sheffield
Plays for:
Surbiton M1s, England/GB
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2018
What coaching roles do you have at the club?
Junior and Senior Coach
What’s the best piece of advice a coach ever gave you?
Never to give up and to keep working at something no matter how hard I find it.
Zach Wallace
Colts coach
Name:
Zach Wallace
From:
Caterham
Plays for:
Surbiton M1s, GB & England
When did you start coaching at SHC?
2017
What's the best thing about the SHC Colts programme?
The quality of coaching that the kids get, and the amount of game play they have compared to other clubs.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Seeing the kids genuinely enjoying being out on a hockey pitch and playing with smiles on faces.