Philip Williams will be taking on the role of Director of Junior Hockey and will work closely with our U8 to U12 age groups.
Blake Goosen will be taking on the role of Head of Junior Performance and will work with the U14 to U18 age groups.
Blake will also be Coaching our Ladies 1st XI.
Brief Resume – Phil Williams
With a wealth of experience and a proven track record in developing young talent, Philip is set to bring a new level of excellence to our junior programme. Philip holds a degree in Sports Coaching Science from St Mary’s University, where the foundation of his impressive coaching career was laid. During his studies, Philip honed his skills at Teddington Hockey Club, coaching both junior and senior teams for five years.
Following his successful tenure at Teddington, Philip joined St George’s College as Hockey Pro. Over the past six years, he has achieved significant success, leading teams to victory in county tournaments and national finals. This role has been instrumental in shaping his coaching philosophy and approach to player development.
In addition to his responsibilities at St George’s College, Philip has made significant contributions to Old Georgians Hockey Club. Over six years, he coached two age groups to National medallist status and led the Men’s 2s and 3s teams. His dedication and expertise were further recognised when he became the Co-Director of Junior Coaching at Old Georgians two years ago.
Philip also spent three years coaching at the Weybridge Performance Centre, culminating in a leadership role as the Performance Centre Lead Coach in his final year. We are confident that Philip’s extensive experience and passion for hockey will be invaluable in nurturing the next generation of players at Epsom Hockey Club.
Brief Resume – Blake Goosen
As an accomplished player and hockey coach with over 15 years of experience, Blake has worked with players and teams from grassroots to national level. Blake's passion for sports and his excellence across multiple disciplines have seamlessly translated into his high standards as a hockey coach. With a Sports Science degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he has bolstered his practical experience with academic knowledge. This synergy enables him to deeply understand players' needs and unlock their full potential.
In his hometown of Durban he progressed into the provincial structures, gaining his first taste of high-performance coaching with the U16 boys and the provincial women's indoor and outdoor teams. In 2014, he had the opportunity to work as an assistant coach and trainer for four years with the national women's indoor team before moving inland to Johannesburg.
His proudest moment and where he feels he really has been able to implement his style and philosophy has been at Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool (Affies). Since September 2021, Blake has been the Director of Hockey at Affies, where he has led the programme to their highest national ranking of 7th and the u14A boys to no.1 in the country in 2023.
In addition to his school commitments, Blake led the Shumbas Hockey Club Ladies 1s in the Southern Gauteng Premier League for five seasons. In such a highly competitive league, the team required changes in strategy, culture, and significant recruitment to improve competitiveness. They went from a bottom of the table team to consistently finishing in the top 5 each season, punching well above their weight, and in his final season, they competed for the top 3 spots.
Looking ahead to Epsom HC, he cannot wait to arrive and get started. The opportunity to be part of the team leading Epsom HC to higher levels is one that excites him. With his passion, experience and proven track record, we have no doubt that Blake will hit the ground running and make the impact Epsom HC is looking for.
We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
