Passion and Commitment Shines Through

Burton began his career in Richmond as a trainer for the now defunct Richmond fliers.  He also coached the U12 and U14 teams.  After a move to Haringey, Paul turned a winless U12 side to league champions within 3 years.  In 1986-1987, Burton moved to Bracknell to the new women’s team Queen Bees and in 1996-1997 season, a new team the Firebees in Bracknell was formed.  Paul has also been a national women’s coach in the past having coached the England U16, South England U16 and as senior women’s coach in 2009-2010 as this was an Olympic year, the World Championships did not proceed.

“Each achievement is different and I am very proud of them all. Coaching kids that had never won a game and seeing their delight in winning their first game. Seeing young children develop into adults and outstanding players and then their children become involved in the sport and lastly being given the opportunity in the year that marks our 100 year anniversary to coach our national team...that must be the tops.”

Since the inception of the Women’s World Championships, Team GB has been yo-yoing between Division II and Division III.  Team GB was demoted last year and now is currently in Division III.  Paul is determined to have the team be promoted back to Division II in the World Championships next year in Asiago, Italy 6-12 April 2014.  Team GB will be playing against Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Korea. Even though next year is an Olympic year, the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) is proceeding with the World Championships for the lower divisions.

Paul is committed to see the team succeed in the forthcoming World Championships and beyond.

“Firstly I want the GB teams to play to their potential and rediscover their love of the game. I want them to play with pride and passion. To achieve this all the players will have to commit themselves to a program of fitness and development. I want to put in place a structure that allows GB girls/women to progress through a transparent system from the various national programs at u16 and u13 so that the future development of the players ensures we produce quality players that are confident of playing at the international level.”

 When asked what his secret of success of the Bracknell Queen Bees.  The Queen Bees are currently Women’s Premier League champions and have been for the past 2 seasons.  Sam Phillips, a fellow coach and player of the Queen Bees has also been announced as assistant coach for Team GB.

 “There is no secret; it is all to do with player/coach/club development. We have girls in the club from 6 to 45 years old and our coaches are constantly working on their personal and team skills to make each player better. Our coaches and management staff are grown out of the club and totally committed to women's hockey and are now becoming involved in the national set up.”

Women’s hockey does not currently gain the exposure or the support as men’s hockey does.  Paul believes that teams and clubs need to start taking responsibility for their own futures if the sport is to succeed. When asked what could be done to improve the women’s game, he responded:

“There are lots of things that can be done but the most important thing in my opinion is teams/clubs need to stop looking for excuses. Nobody is going to do it for you. We need to take responsibility for our own future.”

Even in the USA and Canada, women’s hockey does not garner the support that men’s hockey does.  USA and Canada are regarded as some of the powerhouses to the women’s sport but they still don’t receive the respect that the NHL garners.  Canada has won 3 gold medals out of the 4 times women’s hockey has been in the Olympics.  But more exposure to the game is needed if the game is to get better.  Burton’s opinion on this matter is:

 “We need to stop looking at the women's game in the UK as a stand-alone. We are part of a bigger European picture but there is no central point of focus... the information is all out there but over many different formats...maybe there needs to be a European women's website that brings together all the news etc. with feeds into USA and Canada and around the world.”

 “It was and still is the best decision I ever made in hockey, I have been rewarded watching young players develop into senior international players and those players in turn having children and bringing them back to enjoy the sport I love.”

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