Q1. Tell us a bit about yourself
To put it simply, I love hockey and its a pleasure to be the Men’s Club Captain for what will be an important season at Nuneaton. I have captained sides whilst living and working in London, Muscat, Dubai and New Delhi. After years of playing in extreme heat and pollution, I'm enjoying league hockey in the UK again. It’s also exciting to be in a leadership role for a club with such a long history of competing in the Midlands Hockey League.

Q2. What do you think are the key ingredients for a successful hockey club?
I think three key things in particular:
1) A strong focus on promoting the sport to new players keen to learn the game. This includes youth hockey and adults looking to try something a little different.
2) A competitive environment for all standards of player to test themselves at the highest possible level.
3) A huge sense of fun and enjoyment. Players travel 90 minutes to away games because hockey is a social game. We are teammates on the pitch, and friends off it.

Q3. What excites you about the 2025/26 season?
Our M1s will compete in a division with six other 1st XIs. We will again need to work hard to succeed and I love playing against the very best players from towns and clubs of similar size to ours. Anyone can beat anyone on their day and we have lots of friendly rivalries.

Q4. Any areas of the club you would like to help develop?
We need to support our M2s to mount a promotion challenge this year and introduce more of our juniors into adult league hockey via the M3s. Also, I'd like to see our successful trial of indoor hockey last season expanded. I played it a lot in Dubai to escape the summer heat and it’s a fabulous way to perfect some fundamental skills in a fast-paced format. We are incredibly fortunate to have a sports hall facility next door to our astroturf, something not many clubs are lucky enough to enjoy. I would like to see us expand participation to all levels this year and once again compete well in the Midlands and National Indoor Competitions this winter.

Q5. Best and worst hockey moments?
Best - I helped set up an expat hockey team while living in the Sultanate of Oman for three years. We got sponsored by the sports bar at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and played lots of local teams and visiting Royal Navy warships in the National Hockey Stadium. The Omani national team coach was Olympic Gold medallist Oliver Kurtz, who played for us. We won a lot of games and drank a lot of beer...
Worst - An all-day tournament in Dubai in 45 degree heat after an end of season dinner. Brutal doesn't even begin to describe it.

Q6. Anything to say to visitors to the site?
There is something at Nuneaton HC for everyone. Anyone thinking of joining us, looking to take up hockey, or restarting after some time away from the game, do get in touch and join us. You won't regret it!