International hockey star hopes to inspire kids to get into the sport in Suffolk
George Pinner, former England and Great Britain Hockey player returned to his roots at Ipswich School earlier this week to coach a new generation of hockey players.
Last updated 22nd Apr 2022
George Pinner a former England and Great Britain Hockey Goal Keeper returned to his roots at Ipswich School earlier this week to coach a new generation of hockey players.
Ipswich School has been hosting a hockey camp this week for students in Year 4 to Year 10 from any school or hockey club.
George Pinner, along with his former team mate and fellow international hockey star Harry Martin, opened the Ipswich School Sports Centre in March 2015.
He's now had the opportunity to come back to the school and coach: "I spent many happy years at Ipswich School.
"I was at a school (here) age 7 all the way through to 18. I got some wonderful opportunities and I got to experience many sports and hockey.
"That's how I got into hockey and the school. The opportunity to play it and (have) really encouraging teachers,
"It's gone on and given me some wonderful opportunities in life.
"So the opportunity to come back hopefully inspire some of the kids, it was (a) really nice opportunity coming back."
He also told us how it had changed since he went to school there: "This place used to just be a cookie club, I used to come here for a Friday evenings and play matches in the week at a local club. Obviously now (there is) multiple pitches.
"It's a different world. So it's amazing to see the opportunities that kids have here now. And it's just amazing to see the facilities really."
We asked what it was like for him to come to familiar territory, becoming the teacher instead of the student: "It's great. I remember when I was young and met the England goalkeeper at the time when I was age 11.
"And I think that had a real positive effect on me.
"I loved all sports, but possibly (this) was one of the key reasons behind me choosing hockey.
"And I think today, most importantly, the kids can enjoy it.
"But if it can just inspire one of these kids to kind of believe someone from Ipswich can go on and have the successful, even a bit of the success I had, that would be wonderful.
"I just think it's, it's really important as well, locally, hockey's great.
"And it's wonderful, the school is putting this camp on, but I think it's really important, the work they're doing.
"And for me whilst I'm a hockey player and would love lots of people to get enjoyment from hockey, sports have got a massive part to play socially and in life.
"And the more opportunities kids can get to play sport with their friends and to experience different major sports. That could only be a good thing.
"Today's been absolutely fantastic. All the kids have been quite fun to work with, really positive, really keen to learn.
"I think they got three days worth of training here . I hope you, I continue with the great energy and the enthusiasm."
George Pinner
George Pinner
We also spoke to Poppy Martin, Head of Hockey at Ipswich School who told us why its important to inspire the children, who spoke about the schools goals and support for the children: "The aim is for every people to excel and reach their full potential, and to achieve whatever their goals are.
"For some of our peoples that might be international hockey, and George is a fine example of a former pupil who has reached that potential.
"For some of our pupils that might be a long lasting experience with the game and playing into the adulthood and continuing to play from university and beyond.
"The, the aim of the camps really is just another opportunity. Giving them really high quality coaching and an opportunity to keep playing through the summer, and keep improving that technical as well as the tactical hockey."
We asked her what it meant to be able to provide the children with opportunities like this: "They (the children) are brilliant. They absorb information really, really fantastically. So they're, they're a pleasure to coach.
"We also run a Monday night hockey academy, which is for all children in the local community, and it's completely free.
"So our aim is really to grow the game, give as many children we can the opportunity to play.
She told us the benefits of having a former England and Great Britain Hockey Goal Keeper come back and coach.
"It's brilliant to have George back and for the pupils to be inspired.
"Whether they're in Ipswich School pupils, who obviously has a particular connection to, as an old Ipswichian, or whether they're children in the local community that get the opportunity to meet an Olympian, is a brilliant opportunity for them."