Meet Lingfield's Head of Hockey, Sam Knight

It's already October and the Hockey term is in full swing for the girls at Lingfield Senior with matches across all age groups from U12 - U18. Hockey is the major sport for girls in the Autumn term and for boys in the Spring term with teams entering county, district and national tournaments. Let's find out a bit more about Head of Hockey Mr Knight.

How did you start playing Hockey?

I first started playing field hockey when I was 13 years old. I originally played ice hockey before but made the switch over in my second year of Senior school. A family friend back in my hometown of Dundee suggested to my parents that I give field hockey a try to see if I liked it. I signed up to a summer camp in the holidays and I instantly knew this was the sport for me. I dropped ice hockey and solely focused on my field hockey which saw me progress at an extremely quick rate, gaining Scotland age group national trials after only one year in the sport. This drove me to push myself and become the best player I could be which in turn saw me make my Scottish Premier league debut at 15 years old and represent my country from U16s to U23s over a span of six years before I moved down to Lingfield College and became a part of East Grinstead Hockey Club.

What do you like about the game?

One of the best things about hockey, in my opinion, has to be how fast-paced and exciting the game has become. This is what makes it so fun to watch, coach and play. Being a part of the hockey community is such a privilege to me and it has allowed me to make so many friends, build good relationships, develop many key skills and so much more. The development of hockey in Europe and the UK has been really pushed and driven in all aspects over the last few years and it's amazing to see the opportunities it has given people to experience the sport in so many different ways.

How do you plan to inspire the students in the game? What do you look for in great Hockey players? 

I am really looking forward to this year in the sports department leading up the hockey program at Lingfield. After working in the school last year as the hockey pro I am very honoured to be able to now head up and run the program. I believe we should give all students that come through the school the opportunity to play and give hockey a try as it is such a brilliant sport to be involved in. As a hockey player myself I know just how important the role of a coach can be to a young person and I really hope that I can be a strong role model and inspiration to those aspiring hockey players in the school. It is also really good to see a number of our students part of hockey clubs outside school, especially at East Grinstead Hockey Club. The school and the club have a really close affiliation, and it is the club that I became a part of when I moved down from Scotland last year, so it's great to be able to see and interact with students in this setting. 

What advice do you have for young Hockey players?

Hockey is a growing sport in the UK now and there are now so many opportunities. Joining a club is definitely one of the best ways you can not only improve your game and skills but also make lifelong friendships and develop many major life skills. As well as playing hockey I would encourage everyone to watch hockey when they can. There are some great local teams in the men's and women's national premier leagues that play regularly throughout the school terms, and it is a great experience to watch such high-level sport in a nice, friendly and warm atmosphere. If anyone is unsure or needs help, I am more than happy to help point people in the right direction and inform them of the best options available.

Photos Eva Gilbert Photography