Northwood is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Shaun Baker as our new Director of Hockey as we bid farewell to Mr Matthew Fairweather at the end of the year.
Shaun has had a notable playing and coaching career that began at Maritzburg College and has extended to playing in the Durban Premier League and for the Raiders Team, with several IPT gold medals to boast. His coaching career took off in Durban after success with numerous KZN teams that range from u16 girls, u18 boys, u21 ladies and Mynahs ladies teams. In 2009 he made the decision to further his playing and coaching career in the UK. He was offered a contract from Fareham HC where he played 5 seasons of intense hockey in the national league of England. He played and coached the team in the 2013/2014 seasons and retained national league status. After his experience at Fareham he made the move to a more established hockey club, Bath Bucs. In his 1st season at the Bucs they won the league and in the 2nd season finished runners up. He was also fortunate enough to play and coach in Brisbane and the Gold Coast for a season in their respective premier leagues. On Shaun’s return from Australia he began working as Head of Hockey at Bryanston School, Dorset. He has taken the school from a 2nd tier hockey school, to a school who regularly competes in national tournaments across all age groups. Some of his notable moments include his u14 and u16 teams winning the County Cup for the 1st time in the school’s history, as well as in 2015 having all three age groups qualify for the West Final’s tournament – another first for the school.
“I am truly looking forward to starting at Northwood in my new role as Director of Hockey. I have no doubt that with my experience in coaching in South Africa, England and Australia, in the top leagues in those respective countries, that I have the capability and passion to take Northwood hockey to new heights. I have had a successful and diverse playing career in some outstanding teams.”
Playing career:
- 2003 – 2009 KZN Raiders (indoor and outdoor)
- 2009 – 2014 Fareham HC United Kingdom
- National League team
- Captain 2012 onwards
- Player/coach 2013/14
- 2012 Bulimia Bulls HC (Australia)
- Brisbane Premier League team
- Won the Brisbane League
- 2012 Gold Coast Roosters HC (Australia)
- Top Goal Scorer in Gold Coast
- Runners up in Gold Coast Premier League
- Assistant coach
- 2014 – 2016 Bath Bucs
- National League team
- National League Champs 2014/15 and runners-up 2015/16
- Captain
Coaching career:
- 2006 – 2009 KZN u21 Ladies
- 2009 – 2012 Southampton University Head Coach
- 2010 and 2011 unbeaten seasons and double promotion to British Universities Premier Division
- 2012 West Champions and retained premier league status
- 2009 – 2011 Portsmouth University Men’s 1st XI Head Coach
- 2012 – Gold Coast Roosters HC
- 2012 – 2016 Head of Hockey at Bryanston School
- Regularly County Champs or runners-up and regional qualifiers at u14, u16 and u18 (not been done in all age groups in the history of the school
- 2013 – 2014 Fareham HC Head Coach
