1971 at the Grove school where George Bunker a teacher [and Saxons player] started an after schools session of hockey and he introduced me to Saxons the following year.

Q. proudest hockey moment?
Becoming the Sussex Hockey President where I was able to organise the trophy tournaments and assisted in Sussex becoming a premier County at all levels.

Q. who was the best player you have played with?
Richard Tanner at Saxons who was a class player and at County level Richard Leman who was captain of England and GB, winning a gold medal at the Seoul 1988 Olympics.

Q. best experience?
Winning a game when playing at a real competitive level; 100% effort and commitment from you and the team delivering the right outcome.

Q. worst experience?
The opposite! ….losing when you have given your all and its not enough.

Q. done much touring?
Early days were Bethune and Tilburg and more recently Le Touquet and Douai …..ended up in hospital for 2 of them. Also did the Folkestone Easter Tournament which used to be really competitive and classy and played in the final vs Monchengladbach hockey club, which we won.

Q. your umpiring highlights?
No real highlights as I consider the function of an umpire is to facilitate a game and not have personal highlights.

Q. funniest moment?
I always enjoyed indoor hockey and there used to be an indoor midweek league where a well known Crawley idiot was playing. I took him out with a nice low tackle which sent him crashing against the fire doors which opened up and deposited him in the car park. I promptly closed the doors. He eventually made his way back spitting and swearing so the umpire immediately sent him off!

Q. best rule change?
You may not consider it a rule change but it was; the introduction of astro pitches which not only changed the quality of the game but also the saturday structure of hockey.

Q. advice to young players?
Talk to experienced high level players, have continual dialogue and put into practice their advice. Enjoy your hockey and broaden your horizons by getting to see good quality hockey whenever you can.

Q. future of club?
Saxons have always had a sound committee who have the interests of the club both short and long term in mind, and the current committee demonstrate this really well and the establishment of a 5th team is a positive sign. I know the pitch situation is frustrating but Saxons have never owned their own pitch, playing most of our games at council pitches at Bulverhythe and Filsham with some of our most successful periods being nomadic ….playing home games at Seaford and Bexhill.

Q. future of hockey?
Difficult to answer as hockey looks after itself, its a world wide sport that funds and organises itself but I have noticed that the grass root clubs are becoming less influential in the running of the sport.I have no concerns over its future.

Q. something no one else knows?
Many years ago [44] whilst playing against our Eastbourne rivals I got my first kiss from a young lady who was attending a party at the Saffrons …. we have been together ever since.