We are delighted to announce that both Molly Hanson and Adam Ward are to be the club’s Co-Directors of Hockey for 2024-2025. This follows the decision by David Mathews to step down as Director of Hockey due to family and work commitments needing to take priority.
Both Molly and Adam bring a huge wealth of hockey experience with them both playing but largely coaching at school, club, county and even International level. But most of all they are well known to the Old Cranleighan Hockey Club family and understand the club’s ethos towards an inclusive family environment. We are thrilled to have them both onboard in this key role.
Molly joined OCHC Ladies 1s in 2018 and was part of the 4 successful promotions through to London Premier League. Unfortunately her playing career was brought to an abrupt end last season due to numerous concussions but fortunately for us she has chosen to focus her energies on coaching.
By way of background Molly started her playing career at Surbiton Hockey Club playing Ladies 1s as a Junior player aged just 14. She has played both national premier league at outdoor and indoor hockey. Her coaching career also started at club level and been a coach as part of the EH Performance Centre set up and more recently 1st XI coach for Girls and Boys at Kings College, Wimbledon. Molly will continue to coach both junior and adult hockey.
Adam joined OCHC in September 2022 as Director of Junior Hockey and has achieved much in his short tenure. Driving forward key initiatives such as the Junior Indoor Programme, the very successful Barcelona Trip, holidays camps and delivering our community schools programme on top of the main day-to-day role of delivering hockey to our 550+ juniors with aid of our great pro / volunteer coaches.
Adam himself has a wealth of experience as a coach with the EH Player Pathway set up, guided England Men’s Over 40s to World Cup bronze and is now coaching at Epsom College. Adam will also continue in his existing role of Director of Junior Hockey.
Both have a lot to plan and deliver throughout the season so we wish them both much success in their new roles.