Slough Hockey has progressed rapidly over the past 5 years with the 2015-16 season seeing their Ladies 1s regain promotion to the very top level of English hockey and the other Ladies and Mens senior teams strengthening in their league positions. Alongside this their Junior teams have expanded and developed quickly with 10 separate squads from Under 6s to Under 16s.

It is with this growth and development in mind that the club is now investing in and showing the clearest of intents to accelerate the journey.

The club’s target is to deliver:

- Highly competitive Mens 1s and 2s that will see the Men target promotion to the South Premier league within 3 years and a rise to the National League structure within a further 3 years

- Outstanding and highly capable junior players with strong technical skills and who can reach their full potential at Slough and who can further develop by integrating into the senior squads and driving the future progress of Slough Hockey

- Continued high level of coaching support to enable the Ladies 1s to retain their Premiership spot and to drive forward the Ladies 2s towards further promotion.

Slough HC announce the appointment of their Director of Hockey.

Slough Hockey Club are delighted to announce Kalbir (Kali) Takher’s appointment as their new Director of Hockey.

Kali is well known to all at Slough already as he has successfully guided the Ladies 1s back to the top level of English hockey, the Investec Premier Division. During his tenure, Slough Ladies have also reached the Indoor Premier Division semi-finals twice and maintained their Premier League status.

The Director of Hockey role allows Kali to continue in his work with the Ladies 1s but to extend his influence across the whole club with overall responsibility for the Mens and Ladies Senior squads and the Junior squads. He will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategy that addresses the development needs of the club and driving towards the club’s future vision. There will be a clear focus on the development of young players as they progress in junior hockey and then an equally important focus on ensuring these juniors reach their full potential at junior level but also right through into the senior squads. Kali will ensure all club sides are performing and aligned to the club’s goals.

Kali’s hockey career has spanned over 30 years, both as a player and a coach. As a player he captained Cannock Mens 1st XI to seven Premier National League victories and played four European Club Cups. He gained over 100 international caps representing England & Great Britain in the Olympic Games, World Cup, European Cup and Champions Trophy. His accolades include being voted English player of the year and named in the World XI. After his playing career at Cannock came to an end, Kali continued in a player/coach role for several clubs including Nottingham HC, who he helped secure promotion to Division 1 of the National League; Peterborough HC, who achieved three successive promotions, moving from regional to national league hockey and Milton Keynes HC who gained two successive promotions to reach the South Premier League.

As a Level 3 coach, his credentials are even more extensive. He has led many teams, both Mens & Ladies, to success. Under his charge, Olton Ladies reached two HA Cup Finals, got to the Premier League Finals on three occasions, winning once and qualifying for the European competition where they went on to play in the final of the European Cup.

We take great pleasure in welcoming Kali to his extended role at Slough Hockey and look forward to another great season of progress and development at Slough.

Club Chairman Harjit Sandhu (Paps) added, "We are delighted that Kali has committed to Slough Hockey. He is an ideal person to build on the success of the Ladies 1’s and to work with the Mens and Junior sections to develop and create a pathway for all players.”