News Article | 27th June 2010 » Press Release - Jon Rowbotham's resignation

The Club delayed the full official announcement of the shock decision by Jon Rowbotham to resign from his position of Head Coach of the Sheffield Scimitars, in the hope that he might be persuaded to reconsider his decision.

Jon made his decision known to Club officials at a meeting two weeks ago. Assistant Coach, Matt Darlow, broke the news to the players and said "I've known Jon for almost twenty years and have had the pleasure of working with him for many of them. He is a good friend and this news is terrible for me, Sheffield hockey and GB hockey too."

As Jon contemplates a life outside of hockey, his legacy particularly at the junior level lives on. He was appointed as Scimitars' Head Coach last April and soon set his stamp on proceedings as the Scimitars made a flying start in their league campaign. Always a low-budget team, Jon had the Scimitars playing fast-flowing hockey and the youngsters on the roster showed their potential to all who came before them.

Jon's Scimitars team will be remembered as a team of young Brits who punched well above their fighting weight and for the most part over-achieved for little reward. Early in the season the team excelled and some memorable results were achieved, although a win against rivals Manchester Phoenix eluded Rowbotham's men.

At the mid-point in the season the Scimitars struggled and their lofty league position slipped as the run of games lost went on. But in the last few weeks of the season Jon found the formula to change things round and the team's performance improved, ending in a play-off campaign against the eventual play-off winners, Slough Jets.

Hockey people know all too well what Jon was about, a selfless, dedicated and highly motivated man who loved hockey in general. Jon was devoted to the furtherance of ice hockey in Sheffield and it was felt that his 5 year plan would have made a massive difference to the progression and development of those players wanting to push themselves to the highest level they can.

There has been much speculation as to why Jon resigned. Jon issued a statement at the junior AGM explaining his decision.

The following is taken directly from his written statement:

QUOTE " After 16 years of developing ice hockey in Sheffield to present day Academy status, it is with sadness that I inform you that as from the end of this AGM, I have resigned from my position of Director of Hockey for the Academy, Head Coach for the Scimitars EPL and Head Coach for the Great Britain U18 team. Those years have given me a great sense of satisfaction but, it has never been about me. Seeing that 5 or six year old, the size of a full stop on a piece of paper, progress over the years under my coaching, to wear the Gold medal at the World Championships, or consequently watching that limited ability player turning up week in week out and just having fun, and getting satisfaction from just being part of the TEAM - that is what it has all been about.

Unfortunately, as with all people at the head of an organisation, I have my critics. I openly encourage criticism on a face to face basis, but those who prefer to start false rumours and incite others to form clannish behaviour to the detriment of myself, the organisation and those people who give freely of their time and money, for the good of ice hockey in Sheffield, then congratulations, your day has arrived.

I wish my successor all the very best in their new role" QUOTE ENDS

We wish Jon all the very best for the future and are sure that when the time is right for Jon, he will return to hockey.

Next News Article: A New Era for Sheffield
3rd July 2010
Previous News Article: Scimitars Latest Update
25th June 2010

Announcements

Sheffield Steeldogs - New Website

The Sheffield Steeldogs are in the process of setting up a new website, but in the meantime, all news will be posted on an interim Home page at: http://www.sheffieldsteeldogs.co.uk An...

Update for all Sheffield Steeldogs' Fans

New Website Page for Updates: www.sheffieldsteeldogs.co.uk The Sheffield Scimitars' website will no longer be used for updates for Sheffield Steeldogs announcements. We are working on...