Southgate Hockey Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Huw Stevens as Men’s First Team Head Coach and Jason Lee as assistant Mens Coach.

Huw Stevens joined Southgate in 2022 as part of our Men’s Coaching Team and has played a pivotal role in leading the team to promotion to the premier division and a top 6 finish last season. He brings a wealth of experience having worked as Kwan Browne’s assistant for almost a decade having helped lead Hampstead & Westminster to Premier Division success and three appearances in the EHL.

Former GB coach Jason Lee joins Huw as assistant coach. Jason is one of the UK’s most experienced coaches, he was a Head Coach for England and GB for eleven years, and remains GB’s longest ever serving international head coach.

Speaking of his appointment as Mens 1st Team Coach, Huw said,

“I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to lead one of the top clubs in the country. I am looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get started.”

Jason Lee has also spoken of his new role at Southgate,

“I’m excited to be joining the coaching team at Southgate Hockey Club and grateful to continue my coaching journey with one of the most iconic hockey clubs in the country. It’s clear that many people at the club are working passionately to ensure everyone has a successful and enjoyable hockey experience, and I hope I can contribute to that ambition in any small way I can.”

Speaking on behalf of the club Director of Hockey Chris Pearce says,

“We are delighted to announce the coaching team of Huw Stevens and Jason Lee. Huw has already been with the club for two years and has played a key role in the squad’s progress during that time. He steps into the lead role with vital knowledge of our club and the playing squad. We are excited to be the club to benefit from the ability and experience Huw has gained to date. Jason will assist and brings a level of expertise and experience that will be invaluable to Huw and the playing squad. Alongside new signings to be announced in the coming days, everyone at Southgate can look forward to a great 2024-25 season.”

New player announcements will follow in the coming days.

Q&A with Huw Stevens

Huw it’s a pleasure to welcome you into the new role as coach of our men’s 1st team. You’ve been a familiar figure around the club for the past few years and now you are stepping up into the main role – was it an easy decision to put yourself forward for the big job?

Yes, for me being a Premier League Head Coach has always been the aim and for the opportunity to arise at a club of this calibre made for a very easy decision.

Launching straight into the big questions- what are your ambitions for the team this season?

Last season we finished in the top six and that is the aim for this upcoming year. With a change of coach and some playing personnel we need to build well over pre season to ensure we are ready.

You’ve spent the last 10 years working with Kwan who has of course left for a new start with Holcombe. What have been the highlights of your time with Kwan working across 3 different clubs?

I have been extremely fortunate to work along side Kwan for as long as I have. There have been many highlights: Getting Southgate promoted at the first time of asking would be one, and of course getting to coach in the EHL three times, however, the biggest highlight would be when we won the league with Hampstead in 2019.

It’s common knowledge now that a few of our players followed Kwan to Holcombe, can we expect some new players joining Southgate ?

Yes you certainly can. It has been a very busy off season so far across the league. We are very happy with the work we have done so far, watch this space…

Jason Lee is going to be joining you in the role of assistant coach, do you have sense of how that relationship between you will work?

I have known Jason in a coaching capacity for a few years now and I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with him this season. With the amount of experience and knowledge that he has I will be looking for him to not only help the players but also me as a coach. We will share many aspects of the coaching and I look forward to the relationship building throughout the year.

There has been a lot of turbulence in the top flight of English hockey over the past few months, lots of changes in coaches and players moving from club to club – have you seen this sort of movement and flux in previous years or is this a unique situation?

I have to say this is the busiest off season I can remember. Post Olympic seasons can often see more movement than usual but nothing like this. This movement has not just been players but coaches, with several teams heading into the year with a new coach. It is going to be an interesting year for sure.

We have a fixture with Holcombe lined up at home at the end of November- will this be the first time you and Kwan will have been on the other side of the dug outs and is it a game you are looking forward to?

It will be a strange day when Kwan and I line up in opposite dugouts for sure. However, it is certainly something I am looking forward to as I will get to pitch my wits against one of the top coaches in the country- and of course one of my closest friends. There will be many familiar faces on each side so I predict a great encounter when it comes.

Finally looking further afield what is your ambition for the club and specifically this group of players?

The trajectory of Southgate currently is extremely positive and exciting and this is something I am determined to continue and aid as best as I can. I am extremely excited with the playing group that we have and myself and the management team will be doing everything we can to ensure the players maximise their abilities. The sky is the limit for this group, I can’t wait to get started.