Get to know Ladies 1st Team Captain: Ruth Gordon !

Ruth Gordon is our current Ladies' 1st Team Captain.  An inspirational leader who has put her body on the line time and time again.  Ruth is a wonderful role model for our developing players and we are fortunate to have her as a part of the senior player / management group.  Read on ! 

 Previous Clubs: Durham University, UTS Australia, Whitley Bay & Tynemouth, Newcastle

Position: LM, CM and when Mary is really desperate up front!

How did you came to be at East Grinstead Hockey Club:
I joined East Grinstead when i moved down to London in 2013, as unfortunately my husband is a southener, so reluctantly at the time I made the move! Following graduation from Durham University and playing as part of a great performance setup there, i wanted to continue to progress my hockey alongside working full time as a teacher in London. When looking for a club to join I saw East Grinstead had recently been promoted to the National League. I knew the reputation of the men's side and it seemed like the women were on the same path having being promoted consecutively for a number of seasons. I came down to training and Simon and Mary showed me round the facilities and gave me their 5 year plan. At the time the 5 year plan sounded ambitious to say the least, but i was impressed by both Simon and Mary's unwavering belief that this would happen.
Over the following seasons we were promoted to the Premier League, successfully made playoffs, won a National Indoor title and won Bronze at the European indoors, all under the 5 year plan timescale! Over the years we have built a fantastic squad of players, who travel from all over the south to play at East Grinstead and i think that is a real testimony to how well regarded the club is. The club now feels like home from home and i love being part of such a fantastic family club.

Best thing about being part of the 1XI squad:
Allie's homemade soup on a Thursday night after training, is high on the list! Top of the list would have to be playing with a bunch of girls who are ambitious and great fun on and off the pitch! However, another amazing thing is all the support we get from throughout the club to help us get to the very top. From people giving up their time to ball patrol for us on a Saturday, to physios, managers and support from the clubs management. We are very lucky to have amazing facilities and some of the best coaches in the country.

Aspirations for the season:
We have made some great additions to the squad this season, including; Ellie Rayer, Amy Tennant, Georgie Blackwood and Philli Went. We also have some fantastic youngsters playing their first seasons in the premier league and it is great to see them making such an impact on the pitch. In terms of our goals for the season, as a squad we are aiming to finish top 4 in the outdoor Premier League and also qualify for Wembley Indoors.

Best East Grinstead moment (on the pitch):
This is a tough one! I would have to go with winning the indoor title at Wembley. We got to the final the year before and didn't perform to the level we wanted to, so to follow that up the next year by winning the title was pretty special. It was great to make a bit of history for the club, especially as that year we did the double with the boys also being crowned champions.

What sport would you play if you weren't a hockey player:
Unrealistically a professional surfer! Mainly for the lifestyle of travelling the world to amazing beaches.

Pre game song choice:
Tough one....its always changing but i like a bit of Chase and Status pre game.