Committee Update: New Leadership Team Elected for 2026
With the close of the 2025 season comes a new chapter for New Forest Baseball, as several long-serving Committee members step down and a fresh team is elected to guide the club forward. The most significant change is at the top, with General Manager Andy Moore stepping down after three years at the helm. Andy has been instrumental in bringing the ThunderKnights to life and overseeing a period of real growth. His legacy includes two competitive teams and the creation of a brand-new ballpark at Gang Warily. The club extends its sincere thanks and best wishes to Andy for all his dedication and leadership. Also stepping aside are other founding members of the club. Sam Williams and Shaun Barrett have both stepped down as Treasurers, with Williams also moving on from his role as Knights Co-Manager. Shannon Hall departs as Head Coach and Thunder Manager, while Kieran Jewell did not seek re-election as Social Secretary. The club is grateful to all outgoing committee members for their tireless contributions. They leave behind a stronger, more vibrant club having laid the foundations that the new members will seek to build upon. Looking ahead, a new Committee has been formed. Lewis Kelly takes over as General Manager, stepping up from his role as Knights Co-Manager. He will be succeeded in that role by Ben Coxhill and James Knight. Doug Sutherland becomes the new Thunder Manager, while Bryan Barry and Sam Powell take on the roles of Treasurers. This year also sees the introduction of a new position: Club Secretary, a role filled by Al Galpin, who will also continue as Communications Officer. He will work alongside returning Social Media Officer Rozi Hathaway, joined this year by Cameron Houghton. Ben Coxhill and Leigh Froud remain in post as Equipment Officers, while the Committee welcomes Luke Callum as the new Social Secretary. Rounding out the team, Ian Tiffen has been recognised for his outstanding work on the Gang Warily field with the official title of Groundskeeper and a place on the Committee.
Knights and Thunder Stars Crowned in 2025 Awards
The weekend marked the club’s annual End of Season Awards Night, the final one overseen by outgoing General Manager Andy Moore. Held at Brockenhurst Football Club, the evening featured 11 awards recognising individual excellence throughout the 2025 season. Three players stood out by collecting double honours. For the Thunder, Bobby Samuelson claimed both Offensive Player of the Year and Manager’s Player of the Season, while fellow SWWBL Double-A All-Star Doug Sutherland was named Defensive Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Season. The Knights’ standout star Andy Bashforth capped off his All-Star campaign by winning the Knights Players’ Player of the Season and the club’s prestigious overall Player of the Season. Other Knights awards included Offensive Player of the Year for Catcher Simon Schwarz, Defensive Player of the Year for Ben Coxhill, and Manager’s Player of the Season for Al Galpin. Rookie Sam Powell was a popular choice for Rookie of the Year after a superb debut season, while Ian Tiffen received the Club Contribution Award for his outstanding work on the new field at Gang Warily. The night was a true celebration of talent and commitment, shining a light on a season of great baseball during a challenging year of transition.