Greenisland Ladies Hockey Club

New 1st Team Coach for Greenisland Ladies Hockey Club

The Committee of Greenisland Ladies has announced the appointment of their new first team coach.

It sees the return of local man, Mark Webber, to the Club. “I did used to help out many years ago before all this coaching business got serious,” commented Mark.

In fact, Mark has proved to be a successful local coach. Three seasons at Carrick Ladies saw the Club lift six League titles, make two Cup final appearances and there was even a visit to Belfast’s City Hall for Mark when he was short-listed for Coach of the Year.

He then moved to Ballyclare Ladies whose 1st XI team play in Senior League 1. “I must admit to enjoying my time ‘over the hill’. The 1st XI finished in 4th and 3rd place respectively in my two seasons. Youth development was also important with the newly formed U14 team winning their League at the first attempt.”

Although Mark has received two other coaching offers, he returns to Greenisland in a two year deal. Explaining his decision, “I could have taken up coaching at a Premier League club, however, what clinched it for me was the opportunity to work on the intended hockey pitch. Strange as it may seem in the 21st century, there are no team playing facilities for women in Northern Ireland. Girls sport tends to survive on Council or school venues, whereas male sport, more often than not, operates from its own Clubhouse facilities. That can’t be right.”

Sentiments echoed by all the members of Greenisland Ladies Hockey Club. With six ladies’ teams registered in the Senior Club, an U14 team and over eighty girls aged 8-14 registered in the Junior Club, Greenisland is one of the largest and most successful Clubs in Ulster.

Pre-season training will get underway on 24 July and full details will appear on the TRAINING PAGE.