About the Club
GOLD MEDAL SPORT RETURNS TO GOSNELLS
Field hockey has returned to the Gosnells district with the formation of an exciting new hockey club. The Southern River Hawks is located at the Sutherlands Park in Gay Street Gosnells and will be sharing the excellent facilities with the WACA affiliated Gosnells Cricket Club in the Les Sands Pavilion. It is important to note that we are NOT a resurrection of the former GOSNELLS HOCKEY CLUB. We are not associated with them and have no link with them at all.
The fast growing sport of field hockey has currently 5000 registered playing members in Perth and Australian teams Kookaburras (men) and Hockeyroos (women) have achieved Gold medals in recent Olympic games and are favourites in the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The sport enjoys a high profile in Australia and provides both players and spectators a fast paced highly competitive spectacle.
The Southern River Hawks comes to Sutherlands Park with a wealth of talent both on and off the field. Club President Lloyd Jones has played hockey for over 40 years including playing at A grade level. As a young 19 year old migrant from India he settled in Perth some thirty five years ago. His playing record in Australia includes playing A grade hockey and captaining and coaching sides to finals and premierships. He is currently playing veterans hockey and is a life member of the Dale Hockey Club having played with the club for the last 28 years. He has also played A grade cricket and is a life member of the Stirling Hawks (Ex Main Roads) Cricket club having played over 300 games. His administrative capabilities and leadership qualities are a result of his loyal service to his respective clubs. Over the last three decades he has also developed a reputation for achieving outstanding results in promoting hockey in the area. The forward thinking of Lloyd has been the driving force behind this exciting new club and his vision of bringing hockey back to the City of Gosnells has been realized with the establishment of the Southern River Hawks.
The name Vanderputt has been synonymous with hockey in Australia and particularly Western Australia for many years. Club treasurer Barry Vanderputt has played hockey for this state as a junior and been a member of A grade sides throughout his career. He has coached locally for many years and has been successful for extracting the utmost from players under his guidance. He has a remarkable playing record and has been the recipient of many personal awards for his outstanding ability. Along with Lloyd, Barry has identified the need to bring hockey to the Southern River region and has also been instrumental in the formation of the Hawks.
The club has been extremely fortunate to secure the services of Leighton Keane as the inaugural senior coach. Leighton has come to the club with a wealth of experience due to his involvement with Classic league clubs in Perth and State teams. Leighton has been involved with hockey at grass root level since a junior and has an astute knowledge of the modern game and is an innovative coach who has achieved success in his field in a rapid time.
The club has recognized the value of providing an avenue for junior players to learn and develop their game and as such is pleased to announce the appointment of Fred Keane to oversee junior development and recruitment. Fred has had many years involvement with junior hockey at the highest level in this state and has coached many local champions in his time. He has the outstanding ability to extract the full potential of future champions and also cater for the junior who just wants to enjoy the sport and have a good time. Fred has played the game at the senior level and understands the finer points required to succeed.
The Southern River Hawks will cater for players ranging from under 11′s through to Veterans level and has plans to conduct Minkey clinics for sub junior players. The club will be affiliated with WAHA (Hockey WA) and as such will be involved in competition arranged by that association.
The Southern River Hawks recognizes the Board of management of the Gosnells Cricket Club and the City Of Gosnells for their invaluable assistance in the formation of our club.
