New GB Coaches and Managers are appointed

February 19, 2016

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE with photos

New GB Coaches and Managers are appointed

Thu 11 Feb 2016

Several vacancies have occurred over the winter among GB National Team staffs, and the GB Management Committee, on behalf of the BSF, has advertised the positions, interviewed candidates and recommended appointments.

The BSF Executive has now approved the following appointments:
 

Team Managers

The new Team Manager for the GB Junior (Under-19) Women’s Fastpitch Team will be James Hirai.  The vacancy had occurred because the previous team Manager, Simon Mortimer, has moved up to the position of Team Manager for the GB Senior Women’s Team.  James has extensive experience of both GB Softball and GB Baseball tours as his daughter, Laura, is a GB player in both sports.  He also has previous managerial experience, having organised a trip by two London Mets youth baseball teams to a tournament in Prague in 2015.  The GB Under-19 Women will play in European Junior Championships this year from 1-6 August in Spain.
 

The new Team Manager for the GB Slowpitch Team will be Kellie Whitaker.  The previous Team Manager, Sara Vertigan, stepped down after the Slowpitch World Cup last November after seven years of excellent service to the programme as both Team Manager and Assistant Coach.  Kellie also has previous experience, having served as the Manager for the European Men’s Slowpitch Team (with a majority of British players) that competed in the prestigious Border Battle tournament in Canada in 2014.  The GB Slowpitch Team does not have an ESF tournament this summer, but will play in the WBSC World Slowpitch Cup -- or possibly World Championship -- that will be played in Florida in November.
 

The new Team Manager for the GB Men’s Fastpitch Team will be Lee Grafton.  The previous Team Manager, Steve Fullan, stepped down after the World Championships last summer after 10 years in the role, during which he held the programme together and took the team to a number of World and European Championships.  Lee has had a staff role with the GB Under-19 Men’s Team at recent tournaments, and is currently one of the main organisers for the Great Britain Fastpitch League.  The GB Men’s Team will compete in the European Men’s Championships from 11-16 July in Italy, where a record number of entries is expected.
 

Head Coach

Kevin Stockford has been appointed as the new Head Coach for the GB Men’s Fastpitch Team.  The previous Head Coach, Norman Ames, is based in the Netherlands and was not able to commit the time to continuing with the team in 2016.  Kevin has been a key player on the GB Men’s Team for many years, and will combine the position this year with his current role as Head Coach of the Danish Women’s Fastpitch National Team.  Kevin is very keen to help the increasing number of promising young players based in Britain to improve their skills and understanding of the game, and will spend time in the UK working with these players before and after the European Men’s Championship.
 

Year of change

The 2015-16 off-season has been a time of considerable change in GB National Team programmes.

As previously announced, there is a completely new staff group for the GB Women’s Fastpitch Team following the resignation of Hayley Scott, with Head Coach Rachael Watkeys and Team Manager Simon Mortimer moving up after three years with the GB Under-19 Women.

This has meant a new Head Coach – Amanda Murphy (shown on the right) -- being appointed to the GB Under-19 Women’s Team, along with James Hirai as the new Team Manager and Sarah Pike and Natalie Leyland as Assistant Coaches.

Stephen Patterson remains as the Head Coach of the GB Slowpitch Team but, as mentioned above, Kellie Whitaker will be the new Team Manager.

Both of the top positions for the GB Men’s Fastpitch Team have changed, with Kevin Stockford, as noted, replacing Norman Ames as Head Coach and Lee Grafton replacing Steve Fullan as Team Manager.

A new Head Coach – not yet appointed -- will also be needed for the GB Under-19 Men’s Team, as Josh Peat, who led the team at the European Championships in 2015, wants to step back to an Assistant Coach role so he can play for the GB Men this year.  Ian Tomlin will remain as Team Manager.  While the Under-19 Men do not have an ESF tournament this summer, they hope to gain experience and keep up momentum by playing in unofficial events in Europe.
 

Stability

The two youngest GB National Teams are the ones that have retained their key staff from last season.

For the GB Under-16 Girls, who had a highest-ever fourth place finish last year at European Championships, Jeremy Thomas remains the Head Coach and Sarah Rushin the Team Manager.  The team does not have an ESF competition this year, but hopes to find opportunities to compete and train in Europe.

For the GB Under-13 Girls, who had their best-ever results at the ESF’s Massimo Romeo Youth Trophy tournament last year, Beth Perkins remains as Head Coach and Julie Spittle as Team Manager.  The team will return to the Massimo Romeo event from 10-13 August this summer.

 

FOOTNOTE:

New head coach for GB Men - With former coach Norman Ames based in the Netherlands and unable to commit the time, Kevin Stockford steps up. Stocky has been a team member for many years and looks forward to the challenge!
"I'm very keen to help the increasing number of promising young players based in Britain to improve their skills and understanding of the game, and will spend time in the UK working with these players before and after the European Men’s Championship"
All the best in your new position Stocky!