Barry Middleton Joins SHC as M1 & Performance Coach

Surbiton HC is delighted to announce that Barry Middleton will join the club as Men’s 1s & Performance Coach for the 2024/25 season.

Barry joins Surbiton after a successful 11 year spell at Holcombe HC, spending the last two seasons as Player-Coach where he led the Kent side to a second place finish at England Hockey’s Finals Weekend in 2023 and to the KO16 stage of EHL. He also has extensive experience working with young, up-and-coming players in his role as GB Elite Development Programme Assistant Coach, while his own achievements as a player are well documented, having made 432 international appearances, competed at four Olympics and led the England/GB sides as captain, including to the European title in 2009.

Barry will be Head Coach of the Men’s 1s, as well as leading a new performance programme to support the development of men’s and women’s first team players and other young talent at the club.

The SHC Board is pleased to welcome Barry to the club: “We are looking forward to seeing Barry lead the Men’s 1s and the club’s evolving performance programme as we move into next season. His playing and coaching credentials are superb, and his appointment will bring exciting opportunities for performance players at Surbiton to evolve their own games as well supporting the club’s ongoing ambitions for team success at Premier Division and European level.”

Barry is also looking forward to the new challenge: “I am delighted to be joining Surbiton HC at a time when there are so many exciting developments happening at the club. I thank Holcombe for 11 great years, but now is the time to move on with a young family changing my priorities in life. I am really looking forward to joining the club, getting started with the team and meeting the challenges ahead.”

A warm welcome to Barry from all at Surbiton HC.