‘Fantastic’ chance for promotion push
Havant coach Morris: ‘My hopes and targets are high’
Player-head coach James Morris is eyeing a promotion charge in his first season at the Havant Hockey Club helm.
Morris, who took on firstteam managerial responsibilities earlier this year, is putting in final preparations for his first competitive fixture as Havant head to Sevenoaks for their National Division One South curtainraiser on Sunday.
Morris has had plenty of time to settle into the position following the premature end to the 2020-21 season last November.
Back then, Havant sat bottom of the National League Division One South table, with just one win from six fixtures.
But Morris believes with the additions he's now brought in, increased squad depth and a different look to the management structure - which sees Craig Duffy installed as his player-assistant coach - there's plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Morris said: ‘My aspirations are high, my hopes and targets are high. With the group we’ve got, we’ve got a fantastic opportunity to push for promotion.
‘The difficulty is kind of keeping that in check as it’s been such a long time since we played competitive hockey. Although the feeling is good in training, and there are glimpses of how good we can be, I’m trying not to get carried away because I don’t know what anyone else is doing.
‘This weekend will be a good challenge for us, it’ll be a good test, it’ll also be a good marker for us to see where we’re at.
‘Hopefully we’re on the right side of that and I believe with the talent we’ve got then we will be.’
Morris has added seven new faces as he aims to turn
Havant into challengers for a return to the top-flight.
Goalkeeper Andy MacDonald has arrived, along with Danny and Scott Rawlings - brothers of remaining squad member Jamie Rawlings - Toby Blong, Ekam Bachu, Luke Smith and Tom Crowson, who has won caps for England and Great Britain at under-21 level and was playing in the Premier Division with Beeston last term.
The Polish trio of goalkeeper Maciej Pacanowski, Maciej Janiszewski and Eryk Bembenek have all left. Morris summed up: ‘We’ve managed to acquire some brilliant hockey players from all over the place, really.
We’ve managed to acquire some brilliant players from all over the place
James Morris
new signings for Havant ahead of new season
‘There are lots of local lads, some young lads have come through the club system, which has helped, and some from a bit further away.
‘We’ve currently got a squad with a great deal of depth.
‘There’s a lot of competition for places, which makes my life a bit tricky with decisions for selection, but I’d rather be in that position than I would be scratching around for players.’