Speaking about the decision she said: ‘When you are heavily involved in a sport you form a lot of relationships with the clubs and all the youngsters you are working with and you get quite emotionally attached so it was a difficult decision to make.
‘The job has been very enjoyable but very demanding and I’ve given it a huge amount of energy and time and I feel five years is a good length of time in this job.
‘I have thoroughly enjoyed setting the job up and drawing many groups of people together but I feel this is the right time for me to move on and allow the Jersey Hockey Association to build on the progress that has been made.’ Shelagh, who started out in the sport at the age of twelve, has been developing hockey in Jersey for over 20 years and is the sport’s first development officer, holding the post since January 2003.
Therefore, unsurprisingly, standing down as development officer at the end of July will not be the end of Shelagh’s involvement in the sport and she will continue with Quackers Hockey Club as well as remaining as coach of the men’s Island team.
Mother of Jersey’s hockey star Beckie, who has in the past year played for England and Great Britain, Shelagh has locally been responsible for bringing the sport on in leaps and bounds.
She has introduced initiatives that have made hockey more accessible in the community and allowed for more coaches to become involved and better qualified.
‘I’ve started up quite a number of different projects,’ Shelagh said.
But what has made her the most proud? ‘The development and performance programme that is run on Tuesday evenings and also seeing coaches massively improving over the years.
‘That Tuesday night programme has had a massive influence in hockey in Jersey and this year there were around 80 children who signed up which is a fantastic turn out,’ she added.
Malcolm Banahan, President of the Jersey Hockey Association also commended Shelagh for her contribution to the sport.
He said: ‘I am very grateful for the excellent work and commitment that Shelagh has given in her role as development officer.
‘She has a wealth of experience and knowledge which she has used to establish a very strong development programme and there are many people who have benefited from her work – I am sure that Jersey hockey is now well placed to move forward in the coming years.
‘I am really pleased that Shelagh will stay involved in coaching and playing and thank her for all that she has done for hockey development,’ he added.
Shelagh thanked Deutsche Bank for their generous sponsorship and praised Education, Sport and Culture and in particular Derek de la Haye and all the volunteers who have supported her in her role.
Banahan confirmed that there will now be a committee meeting in March to discuss the announcement prior to advertising for a new hockey development officer.
