Coaching Team

Tim McBennett
Head Coach

Tim McBennett starts his 11th Season with Maidstone Rugby this year. Having completed a playing career with Old Gravesendians & London Irish, he started his coaching career with both clubs coaching at youth & senior levels before former Director of Rugby John Legge invited Tim to join the Coaching Staff at the Mote Club. Since joining the club Tim has assisted the Coaching Team to two London league titles, a National Intermediate Cup ¼ Final place & a Kent Cup Final runners up spot. Tim is highly regarded within Kent Rugby & has coached numerous County Youth teams. He is currently an assistant coach with the Under 20 team, and the backs coach for the Kent County Senior XV. He has also been a backline & Lead coach with the London Division Under 18 team, winning a Divisional title. After 4 years at Divisional level he joined the England Under 18 AER team as an assistant coach in May 2004, and proceeded to help the England Squad to win 2 European Under 18 Championships in Lille & Treviso. With Tim adding his input to the coaching team, they have won 11 out of 13 Internationals during this time. He has recently been re-appointed to his National role with the Under 18 AER team for a fifth year and will be preparing the side for the European Championships in France at Easter. With Maidstone Rugby producing many exciting young players he is looking forward to assisting the Club & Coaching Staff towards a successful season.

Andy Golding

Coach

Prior to taking on this role Andy coached Maidstone’s Mustangs XV and was responsible for implementing a team ethos and infrastructure to mirror the 1st XV.

A Sports Scientist by profession, having attained a BA Sport Studies and MSc Sport Sciences from Borough Road, he is an ex-College lecturer on the subject for some 12 years, majoring in biomechanics and with specialisms in exercise physiology, fitness and training and sports psychology. In addition, he is a former National Coaching foundation Tutor.

Andy moved into rugby coaching when injury caused a premature end to his playing career. As a player Andy represented Middlesex and London Division schools rugby at all age groups as well as Middlesex U21. As a senior, he played 1st XV rugby for Ealing, Borough Road and for Maidstone at National League level.

Shaun Neaves

Coach

Shaun joined the club in 1984 as prop forward in the under 17’s,an age group, he then moved into the Colts and played in the successful side of 1985/6 that remained unbeaten and also won Kent Cup. Shaun has represented the club at all levels making his 1st XV debut aged 21 against a Blackheath side that was playing in National 2. Shaun played for the 1st XV at National League and London 1 level, as well as captaining the clubs Mustangs XV. Injury forced his retirement when following a third knee operation in 1995 he was forced to hang up his boots. Since then he has been involved in coaching and administration at Colts & Mustangs level and also as 1st XV Manager.  Shaun’s current emphasis remains in the coaching field where he continues to apply his astute observation to developing the club’s successful Mustangs XV.

Gary Whitehead
Coach

Gary started his senior playing career at Gillingham Anchorians in 1997 at the same time as representing Richmond Colts. In 1999 he moved to Maidstone where he remained until 2005 when he returned to Anchorians as the start of his coaching career in the role of Player/Coach. On completion of a successful 2006/07 season, which saw them narrowly, miss out on promotion he returned to the county town club in a combined player/assistant coaching role. Gary also takes on the responsibility as the club’s Development Coach working with the upper age group levels of the youth section in aiding player transition into senior rugby.  During his playing career Gary has represented Kent at both senior and various age group levels.

Fin Davis
Coaching Assistant

Fin started his rugby career at Tiffin Boys School in Kingston and he was part of a successful age group that were finalists in the Shell UK 7’s.  At senior level Fin has represented London Scottish and Esher as well as a number of appearances for Manly RFC in Australia.  Since 2004 Fin has had spells with Tunbridge Wells and Westcombe Park before settling with Maidstone in 2006.  He was part of the successful squad that won the Cornwallis Cup at the 2007 Spitfire 7’s.

Fin brings several years experience as a youth level coach at London Scottish where his sides took the trophy as Edinburgh Festival winners and Surrey & Middx Cup winners for 4 consecutive seasons.  Alongside his RFU coaching qualifications Fin has coaching experience from Australia.  This experience is all reinforced with an Honours degree in Sport Science from Kingston University.

Sadie Jones BSc (Hons) Sports Therapist

1st XV

Sadie graduated from London Metropolitan University with a Sports Therapy degree in 2003.  She then worked with Arsenal Ladies between 2001 and 2007 and also as a lecturer at the University of Kent at Chatham. Sadie is also a holder of a Sports Massage Association diploma and also holds a full first aid certificate. Sadie’s role at the club is to provide sports therapy support to the first team on match days and club physio support and injury management on Monday evenings.

Catherine Grundy BSc (Hons) Physiotherapist

Mustangs XV

Catherine graduated from University of Salford in 2006 with a degree in Physiotherapy. She worked with Hull Rugby Union FC during the 2005-06 season. Alongside her role with Maidstone Catherine also works with the Kent Ravens Rugby League team as head physiotherapist.  Her full time role is as a physiotherapist in the community for people with learning disabilities. Catherine provides the physiotherapy support to the Mustangs XV on match days and club physio support and injury management on Monday evenings alongside Sadie.