There will be a new look to the coaching teams leading The English Golf Union (EGU) national squads as the winter training programmes commence at the end of September. One new Lead Coach and three new volunteer Squad Managers will join the existing team of professional and voluntary staff guiding the promising squad players through their competitive and training schedules.
David Ridley continues with the England Squad following six successful years as the Lead Coach to the nation’s top amateur golfers. David has presided over two European Championship victories in his present role and will be looking for further success after a total of 24 years of involvement within the national and regional squad programme. Terry Casey of Surrey, father of world number nine and former English Amateur Champion Paul Casey, takes on the voluntary role of England Squad Manager after a successful period as the Regional Manager of the EGU’s South Region. David and Terry will be supported by the existing professional team of Gary Smith, Graham Walker, Brian Hemmings and Andy Larmour.
The England A Squad will be lead by Andrew Reynolds of Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. Andrew has acted as an assistant to the squad in recent years and will take on the role of Lead Coach for the season ahead. David Oldcorn of Kent continues in his role as Squad Manager with Alan Thompson, Paul Ashwell, Lynn Booth, Ian Maynard and Clare Pheasey forming the professional support team.
Graham Walker will continue as the Lead Coach to the England Under 18’s Squad but he will be joined by two new volunteers in Kevin Cademy-Taylor from Northumberland and Derek Hughes from Somerset. Kevin joins the team as Squad Manager with Derek acting as Assistant Squad Manager to sufficiently cover the large pool of players at boy’s level. Both volunteers have been promoted from their existing roles as EGU Regional Managers and they will be supported by professional staff Gordon Brand Junior, Lynn Booth, Brian Hemmings and Tony Sephton.
The England Under 16’s Squad will have a new Squad Manager in Nick Over from Lincolnshire. John Jacobs continues in his role as the Lead Coach with support from Gordon Brand Junior, Lynn Booth and Tony Sephton.
EGU Director of Coaching, Peter Mattsson commented, “England amateur players have made great progress over the last four seasons under the outgoing Squad Managers and we are enormously indebted for the time they have invested as volunteers in overseeing the training programmes of the country’s up-and-coming young players. We are very lucky to be able to name such experienced replacements and I am confident we can look forward to further success in 2011 given the dedication and work ethic the players show in training.”
Invitations to training sessions are being finalised with an announcement on players making the National Squads to follow. The professional and voluntary staff named above do not form an exhaustive list of support personnel as other specialists and guest speakers are frequently introduced to the programme when required.