Neil Thompson - Chair
Mark Hollis - Co-opted Director
I’ve been involved in hockey from school, club, County and regionally in the North West before moving to London. Moving to Sussex in 2000 and supporting children a sporting ambitions saw me coaching the juniors at Crawley before moves to East Grinstead where I again helped coach and manage various sides as well as main committee roles, ladies' Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair over a 15 year period before moving further South in 2021 . Co-opted to the transition group and subsequently to the new South East board. I continue to umpire regularly as a South East umpire.
Ben Holder - Vice-Chair
My early Hockey career peaked when I was selected to play one match for Somerset Under 16. This selection was perhaps not as glamorous as it sounds as a flu epidemic robbed the squad of the Millfield contingent leading to a last minute panic for replacements. The 1 – 0 win against Gloucestershire will always remain with me however.
Subsequently I have represented Reading University, The Wimbledon Club and Tunbridge Wells. I am a Level II England Hockey Qualified coach and have coached at Senior and Junior level for Tunbridge Wells and at Development and Academy Centres in Kent, and have also undertaken specialised GK coaching. I am a Kent Level 1 Assessed Umpire, and have umpired Senior and Junior Club matches. More recently I have represented South East Masters at Over 50 and Over 55 level.
I have been on the South East Board since 2021 during which time I have focused on Masters, South East Futures and Welfare briefs in addition to my involvement in Board and Management business.
John Thompson - Finance Director
I've been involved in hockey since school, in a playing, umpiring and administrative capacity. I am currently Secretary at Fleet & Ewshot HC, a post I've been in since 2008. During that time the club has doubled in size and has had two successful ClubMark accreditations, expanded from six to ten adult teams, and seen a growth in juniors to almost 200 junior members with teams at all age groups. I am also captain of the FEHC Men's 5s. Since 2012 I was Secretary of Hampshire HA until last year. Latterly, I've been co-opted on to the SE transition group as FEHC has elected to join this area.
Matt Sharp - Operations Director
With over 20 years of operational leadership and transformation experience in the payments industry, I am excited to be part of South East Hockey Board as Operations Director, looking at combining expertise from a business career with a lifelong passion for hockey. Having held senior positions in the payments industry, including leading global implementation teams and driving innovation and continuous improvement in complex, demanding environments, I am focussed on bringing this to the hockey community.
A dedicated hockey advocate, I began playing at the age of five, starting at Cobdown Hockey Club on the grass, and have been there ever since. This includes its most recent evolution into K Sports Hockey Club - and that Club journey of evolution is still ongoing...
My involvement in hockey has spanned playing, team captaincy, club development, and several leadership roles. I currently serve as Club Chair, spearheading operational improvements and membership growth, developing partnerships with local schools and supporting junior player pathways. As Chair of South East Masters Hockey, I led the transformation of the regional Masters programme with a fantastic team and committee, overseeing expanded tournament participation, improved communication and inclusivity, and fostering a strong community ethos for players of all Masters age groups.
I hope to use my diverse experience across business operations, club administration, and strategic regional leadership, to champion forward-thinking solutions and collaboration, ensuring South East Hockey delivers the very best experience for players, volunteers, and clubs.
Robert Harrison - Governance Director
Mike Kefford - Co-opted Director