isle of Wight manager Shaun Hale has been appointed manager of Step 4 Isthmian League Horndean, who play in the South Central Division.
He has replaced Michael Birmingham, who departed to take charge of Step 3 Isthmian Premier side Bognor Regis Town.
Shaun Hale is a Newport boy, who grew up on Pan Estate, playing for Newport and Whitecroft & Barton before joining the army in 1995, which he represented at football.
He went to school at Barton Primary, Downside Middle and Medina High Schools. He has played for a number of well-known non-league clubs, including Havant & Waterlooville, Fleet Town, Welling and Bashley.
Shaun has manged AFC Portchester and Salisbury club Bemerton Heath Harlequins, where he achieved promotion from the Wessex League to the Southern League (his 2nd promotion in 3 seasons). He has recently had a short spell in charge of Wessex Premier Downton.
He took over the Isle of Wight’s manager’s position from Tom McInnes this summer. Sadly, the Isle of Wight men’s football team will not be competing in the 2025 Orkney Island Games, which a lack of accommodation has limited to just 12 teams.
Shaun’s 1st game in charge on Saturday (28th December) saw the Deans go down to a 0-4 defeat at Five Heads Park to Binfield.
In other news involving Isle of Wight managers, former Cowes High School student Gary Rowett has been appointed manager of Championship side Oxford United.
Gary’s father Eric was the governor of Camp Hill prison. He first came to the attention of football scouts aged 15 when his Cowes High School team reached the English School’s football final at Goodison Park.
Rowett’s playing career saw him make appearances for Cambridge United, Everton, Derby County, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion. He subsequently managed Burton Albion, Birmingham City (twice), Derby County, Stoke City, and Millwall before being appointed to the Oxford United hot seat.
The 50-year-old has said of his appointment as Oxford United manager:
“I’ve done it before several times with clubs at this stage of the season.
“For me, I have managed to build other clubs into teams that can challenge for the top six. It’s about showing ambition, because at times like this it can be easy to be fearful, but you need a clear direction of travel and, as I said, be ambitious.”
Gary has had a successful start since taking over as manager shortly before Christmas, winning 3-2 versus Cardiff City on Boxing Day and 2-0 against Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, following which Rooney departed the Devon club.
