Hockey alumnus selected to GB training squad

Whilst not on a centralised contract, Tom has been viewed as someone with the potential to push for a place in the GB team in the coming years and will train with the side as much as possible.

The former University of Exeter Hockey Scholar and current Reading Hockey Club star said: “I am thoroughly looking forward to getting involved as since leaving Exeter it has been hard to maintain the amount of training I would have liked as a result of moving to a new club and starting work full time.

The support at Exeter was fantastic and I really want to use the platform I was given to kick on. Playing at Reading hockey club has allowed to me to learn from more experienced internationals as well as raised the standard of training to hopefully set me up to succeed while training with GB.”

Since graduating Tom has already excelled on the international hockey stage. In November 2012 he joined University of Exeter team mates Olly Deasy (MA International Management, 2012) and Nick Page (MA International Management, 2009) in Reading’s European Hockey League campaign, scoring a winning goal against French champions St Germain to put Reading through to the last 16 knockouts which start in March.

Alongside his hockey commitments Tom is a busy man. Part of the Fujitsu sales graduate scheme in Bracknell, he also runs his own business, YoungOnes with current University of Exeter Hockey Scholar Chris Rea (Flexible combined honours).

Assistant Director of Sport Nick Beasant (Performance and Competitions) said: “Hockey is one of the University’s High Performance Programme leading sports and we pride ourselves on providing the best possible opportunities for all of our players, both on and off the pitch.

Tom’s hockey continues to go from strength to strength and the whole High Performance Team at the University is delighted by his success. To be selected as a funded Great Britain athlete is an outstanding achievement and we hope to see him develop into a more permanent fixture within the set up.

Hockey is one of the University of Exeter’s 10 focus sports with 10 teams currently competing in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues. This year the men’s first team finished second in BUCS the Premier South Division and are also fighting for promotion into the English Hockey League’s Men's Premier Division.