Havant and Waterlooville Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Shaun North as the new Head Coach of the Hawks ahead of the 2024/25 Season
North joins the Hawks in a new role from neighbours and now EFL Championship side Portsmouth FC after working in John Mousinho’s EFL League One title winning side last campaign. Shaun holds a UEFA Pro-Licence, the highest Coaching accolade in European football and will bring a wealth of experience to the Hawks possessing in surplus of 20-years coaching with Pompey across multiple spells amongst other coaching and Management experience. Shaun originally departed Portsmouth in 2007 as he undertook a job at Oxford United as their Reserve’s Manager. A move to Torquay United would follow in preparation for the 2007/08 season as he worked as Assistant Manager under Paul Buckle. Ahead of 2011/12, Shaun was appointed Assistant Manager under Buckle once more, this time at Bristol Rovers.
Shaun also had a short stint at The Gas as Caretaker Manager in January 2012 before the appointment of Mark McGhee which followed Paul Buckle’s departure. During his time as Caretaker Manager, Shaun faced off against then Premier League side Aston Villa at The Memorial Stadium in the FA Cup Third Round as well as going undefeated in his two EFL League Two fixtures against Hereford United and Crawley Town. After leaving Bristol Rovers in 2013, spells as an Assistant Manager would follow with Cheltenham Town, Eastbourne Borough and Eastleigh.
A return to Pompey would follow for Shaun in 2016 as he returned to the club to work in the Academy where he would continue to work with a number of the Fratton Park outfit’s prospects until he was appointed First-Team Kitman in September 2021. Shaun maintained coaching duties with the First Team utilising his experience under Mousinho for the Pompey side that secured promotion back to the EFL Championship in April.
Hawks Chairman, Derek Pope, commented on the appointment saying:
“I am delighted to welcome Shaun to the Football Club. Following an extensive search for a new Head Coach, I along with the Board are thrilled to be able to appoint someone with Shaun’s coaching pedigree. I would like to thank Portsmouth Football Club, and in particular Richard Hughes for their help and assistance in allowing Shaun to make a smooth transition from one club to another.
Given Shaun’s knowledge and experience within the professional game, I am sure that this club will start the new Season in a vibrant manner and will look for a number of positive results early in the Season.”
Shaun shared his thoughts and feelings around joining the Hawks:
“I’m excited to be here and I’m already looking forward to the opportunity. It’s been a great season at Portsmouth and I’m grateful to them for my time there. I would like to thank the Chairman and board for showing faith in me and I look forward to working with him and the Board of Directors as their Head Coach. We’ve still got a couple of months until the start of Pre-Season but I’m already looking forward to getting stuck in.”
We are thrilled to have Shaun joining the club and look forward to us embarking on our new chapter under Shaun.