With pre-season training starting last night, and as we look towards September, we’re excited to give you the coaching line up that will lead the squad in 2025-26.
Familiar faces Vinnie Berrington, Henry Wheadon and Will Davis return, and Tom Stradwick, Head Coach, has added Jon West, David Marshall and Seb Sherwood to the lineup.
“I am really excited about the coaching team we have for the 2025/26 season”, says Tom. Talking about the new recruits, he goes on to say “David Marshall and Seb Sherwood bring experience to the team, having previously both been Head Coaches at National 2 clubs. David has done a fantastic job at Westcombe Park, turning them into a top half side. He is an excellent recruiter of players and has strong man management skills. Seb has just won the league with TJ’s and is a very detailed and technical coach. He has a great ability to bring game plans to life through the use of technology. I am looking forward to the squad benefiting from their expertise in David’s role as Head of Rugby and Seb’s role of Attack Coach.”
Both David and Seb are excited to be joining Blackheath Rugby. David says “I’m honoured and humbled to join the world’s oldest rugby club, the lure of Blackheath and the opportunity to work within an excellent coaching group and a strong, competitive squad is exciting. I’m looking forward to working hard and meeting everyone at the club soon.” Similarly, Seb mentions “I’m thrilled to be joining Blackheath. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with a talented group of players and coaches. The club has a rich history and I am excited about contributing to it’s exciting future!”
Tom goes on to say “Jon West joins the coaching team having previously played for Blackheath and more recently Sidcup. He will be coaching the Club XV side and will work alongside Club XV manager Craig Malloy. Westy is a fantastic bloke and knows his rugby. I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops as a coach over the course of next season.” Asked about his thoughts on joining the Club, Jon says “I’m thrilled to be returning to Blackheath – this time in a coaching role rather than as a player. With Tom and the team having built what looks to be a incredibly strong squad, I’m excited to see what the lads can achieve this season. A key focus for me will be helping to develop a sustainable pathway from the Colts and Club XV through to National League rugby.”
Going on to speak about the coaches retained from last season, Tom says “Retuning coaches Vinnie and Henry both have bright futures. They are very motivated and are passionate about developing players, but also are very detailed in their game preparation. They both have a great work ethic and I am really pleased to have them both on board with Blackheath this year.”
Vinnie says he’s really looking forward to another season with Club “New coaches, new players and a strong group of returning boys makes it a very exciting season ahead!” and Henry is equally as happy to be returning “I am excited to be returning to the Blackheath coaching team this season and building on the progress we have made over the past three years. We have a great group of players with exciting additions joining the squad. I can’t wait to get started again and I’m proud to be a part of this great club for the 2025/26 season!”.
And, finally, on to our returning scrum coach. Tom says “Will Davis is going to look after our scrum again. He is well respected within the group and has delivered some top performances as a player on the pitch.” Will is looking forward to continuing his player/coach role too “I’m delighted to be going into my third season as a player coach at Blackheath. It’s a really exciting time to be at the club with lots of new faces amongst the squad and coaching staff — it’s the start of a new era for the club and I can’t wait to get started!”
Looking at the new coaching team, Russell Ticehurst, Managing Director, is impressed, and says “It was never going to be easy losing Shanners after seven seasons, so when I asked Tom to take the role of Head Coach, I encouraged him to put people around him that he wanted and more importantly that he trusted. The team he has built is very strong, and they will need to be in their first season together. The coaching team is new and so is the majority of the squad, so they will need to be working hard together and from the start. It’s great to see Vinnie and Henry back: they are becoming excellent detailed coaches who understand how important preparation is and how that work gives you the edge heading into a League fixture. David has been very motivated and determined to add strength and depth to the squad, and has cast his recruitment net far and wide ahead of the season which will give us some real contests for places across the squad this season. Watching Seb last night, it’s easy to see why he’s done so well at other clubs and Kent — he communicates on a level with the players that energises and drives standards, which will only improve as the season progresses. I will be supporting this group throughout the season and I’m looking forward to seeing how quickly everything comes together, starting at Clifton away on the 6th September.”
Finally, Tom would love supporters and members to get to know the new squad and encourages everyone to “Come and say hello to us when you are next in the bar at the club!”
We’ll certainly do that, Tom!
In the meantime, we welcome David, Seb and Jon to the club, and welcome back Vinnie, Henry and Will.
LATEST NEWS
