Weston have pulled off one of the most eye-catching appointments of the summer as Alan Browne takes over the men's first team coaching reins.
Browne brings with him an incredible record from his 14 years as a senior player with Glenanne in which he won every honour in the domestic game during the Tallaght club's golden era.
Apart from ISC, club championships, Leinster senior league, Neville and Mills cup success, he was a central cog in the Glens 2008's European gold-medal success in Paris and captained Leinster to Interpro glory.
Browne said of the new challenge: "I have obviously enjoyed my time at Glenanne but I now look forward to the new challenge of coaching Weston HC."
For Weston, the signing represents a big part in their process of reinvigorating the club. The club opened the doors to their own astroturf pitch in the past 18 months which has helped grow their colts section.
The ladies section recently appointed Brian Scully as first team coach and the ex-Fingal and Dublin University first team captain also joins the Lucan-based club as a player.
Elsewhere, Simon Filgas makes the short move from Blackrock to Booterstown as he takes on the coaching role at Hermes following his recent spell at Avoca. Filgas brings a wealth of experience having coached Pembroke and Three Rock Rovers' men's first teams among other appointments.
29 comments:
Is that a joke???
I can assure that the above story is, to the best of my knowledge, entirely genuine having spoken to officials from the clubs concerned.
whats the joke?
its true
Its on their website: http://www.westonhockeyclub.com/
7 teams in Division 2 this year. Thats a joke! It wont be that hard for them to challenge for the league with Alan and Brian Scully playing.
Is Alan player/coach then?
From my understanding, he has retired from playing.
this is unbelievable stuff. Has Browne confirmed the story Stephen? I cant see glenanne letting him go!
The Weston website says he will be player/coach.
7 teams in Division 2 this year. Thats a joke
Did Navan and Naas drop down??
As a senior pembroke player I'd like to wish Alan all the best with Weston. He has always a great competitor right up to club finals in May.
As far as I know Alan has agreed to play as well for the next season.
Not to sure about the reaction and comments on the site. Plenty of Div 2 clubs have lost players to Div 1 over the last few years. Weston made a concerted effort this year to attract a new coach for the ladies and mens teams and attract some of those players gone to Div 1 back. The club and those responsible for this deserve a lot of praise for the success they have had in this. I hope that the effort that has been put in this summer is matched by the players in the pre and regular season.
Spehen, do you know if is alan playing for weston?
July 15, 2009 5:56 PM - I spoke with club officials from both Weston and Glenanne who confirmed.
July 15, 2009 7:01 PM - Naas have dropped down the leagues while Kilkenny have also decided to drop out of senior hockey and down to division 4.
Are weston really ready for a serious player like Alan Browne? Fair play to weston in securing his services.
Such an appointment has really caught my eye, i see that it should be easier for weston to recruit a few fringe division one players now, possibly myself included!! Well done lads!!
1.33 - only one way to find out!
wonder how much he's getting for coaching, id imagine its alot considering hes given up the chance to play EHL next year
As a supporter of a Div 2 hockey side, i think the appointment can only been seen as a good think as it should no doubht raise the level of the game in weston and in the league. Well done westom mgmt!
Navan (and possibly Skerries?) gonna have to pull their socks up this year. 7 teams is a bit of a joke but how do you fix it? Fair play Weston. Badgers Rule!
The EHL may not be the most important thing for a player. Division One Hockey is increasingly a game for players without family commitments. Players are being asked to play games Saturday and Sunday and in some cases to train 3/4 sessions a week. Division 2 may attract a player now as being competitive enough but without the constant drag at weekends. I also feel that players are becoming less tolerant with "bench hockey". If you give up your Saturday you want to be in the mix all the time. Otherwise you could be at home with family or off doing what you want to do. There is more to life than EHL and division one hockey.
Weston have had a couple of miserable seasons in Division 2, failing to challenge anywhere near the top half of the table. Anyone who has been out to Griffeen Valley Park will agree that its a pretty good set up and the appointment of Alan Browne is the most exciting thing to happen to the club for a long time. Leinster hockey needs more clubs in the suburbs to challenge the 'city big boys' - congrats to all involved in Alans appointment and heres to a really competitive (albeit small!) Division 2 this season.
How do you fix it?
Go with a full all-ireland league. Probably going to happen anyway.
Bottom 5 of Div 1 + Top 5 Div 2 make new Leinster Div 1.
OR
Bring 2nd XI teams into Div 2.
OR
Run some cup/mini league between bottom 5 Div 1 and Div 2 during IHL weekends.
Theres's a few players who are happy where they are who played for Weston in the past! Why would they go back to Weston? In fairness if they did manage to get back some players who they had before as well as the players who joined and the players they have now it makes one hell of a team!!! But on a serious note...who could they get????
July 16, 2009 8:33 PM
Just to note, Alan was always a starting 11 player in glenanne right up to his last match in may. As a glenanne supporter, i know he was very rarely benched. He has also played in the equivalent of EHL back in 2001 when glenanne went to Blommendal in Div 1. I dont know if he has any family commitments, but I would suggest that his commitment to weston this year will be no less then what he gave to glenanne. Like stephen quoted in his original piece, I would say it's the challenge of trying to do something with weston thats managed to attract him in.
i find it humurous that sameone instantly jumped to tthwe conclusion that navan dropped out of division 2.
Wow - as Weston player I can't put words on how much I'm relishing the forthcoming season. Alan reputation is second to none. His taking in charge at Weston is a brave move for which I know he'll reach new highs in the game of hockey. His work at the club will be matched with commitment to Div 2 success by those players fighting it out to serve under him. The attraction of players that this appointment leads to will result is a new found competitiveness at Weston regardless of whether new players join now or in the coming years. Fair play to those in the club responsible for this move, for standing up to be counted and being willing to push the throttle a little further to the metal. Bring on the season and lets mix it up. Boo - yak - a - shaa!!
i think its great to see weston making a move like this and showing some serious ambition. I can understand why people who have left ov er the last few years would go back with things starting to shape up. Great set of lads in the club. Might think about a return move sometime in the future
Well Done Alan, Weston men are doing very well and I'm delighted to see a huge turnout from the boys!
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