You may ask why have a web site that is solely devoted to what can only be described as one of the minor (well not to me) sports in this country, well here's why.

I started playing hockey at the age of 15 when I joined Salisbury & South Wilts HC (now just Salisbury HC) playing in the lowest team at the club 'The Swifts', a side that even to this day is purely run as a development side to bring youngsters into the club and give them a chance to play hockey on a saturday. By the end of my first season I was hooked. Playing on a saturday, training, whenever I could get a game I would play.

When I had worked my way through the club I was introduced to the summer tour, Worthing, Basingstoke, Berlin my first, Holland and many more, until the 1st team beckoned.

The 1st team captain's job for a couple of years and after 10 years retirement from it and back to where I started 'The Swifts' of which I am Captain now.

My first taste of International Hockeycame when in 2003 I traveled to Barcelona for the European Nation's Cup for Men's and Ladies, what a week, the most beautiful of settings, pitches laid out adjacent the Olympic Stadium and when I first met some people who looked after me like I had known them all my life, Peter and Iris James, Sheila Jones A.K.A mother of Martin GB,England and Cannock and Shirley and Godfrey Parents of god himself Simon Mason. Between them they made my week perfect.

National league games followed and then in 2004 the Olympic Qualifiers in Madrid, Where a new host of friends were made and renewed, The Hawes, The Pearns, The Middletons, Sally and Kit Catfrom Guildford and many more, parents and friends who not only follow there son's all over the world, make me feel welcome whenever I see them.

A quiet summer and then the big one the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, what a trip, a fantastic time, Hockey was Ok but a trip of a life time. I could not have had a better time if I tried, friends old and new, Athens itself what a dream. shame we came 9th but that is another story.

Well there you go, a small taste of what I have been up to.

The Pictures tell a better story so take a look.

Rich