Tom Cooper
to a reasonable standard until I got a bit older. When I was 16 years old I got a bit of a break in hockey [Rob played for England U16s], and that’s what made my decision for me – to go down that route and for hockey to become my priority.
You are one of only a handful of faces from the 2004 Olympic squad still in the programme (along with Niall Stott, Barry Middleton and Ben Hawes) aren’t you? There weren’t many survivors from Athens even right after the games. I think I am second or third on the list when it comes to age in the squad.
Ady Kerry
Which is quite a worry I suppose!
So how has the attitude and approach of the squad changed over the past seven years? As a team, even since 08, we have significantly improved the culture in the group. The players have taken a lot more responsibility for their own performance and we have become a more cohesive and honest group amongst ourselves. It is a very high-performing culture now, whereas when I first came in the team around 2004, it was a bit different. If you like, it was an amateur kind of thing, now there is a much more professional atmosphere.
London 2012 is only just over the horizon isn’t it? Yes its creeping up very quickly now. I think, for a long time – ever since London won the bid back in 2005 – it has been there for a lot of us as a kind of carrot being dangled. Because a home Olympics would obviously be a fantastic experience – well I don’t know that, I assume it will be! Once Beijing was out of the way – we have
had major tournaments along the way and we still do – but the Olympics in London have been the main focus.
So how do you keep it all together away from hockey. Do you work full time? Not right now, although I have done at various stages in the past. At the moment I do some coaching down at the Royal Grammar School in Guildford two to four days a week fitted in around the training we have. So that’s how I make ends meet.
You became a dad last year didn’t you? Yes I had a baby boy in July. So he has just turned six months old. I keep saying to everyone he will get a hockey stick not long after he can walk but he’ll probably get a golf club just before that. I want him to be sporty that is for sure.
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rob moore: factfile
DATE OF BIRTH: May 21 1981 PLAYS: Midfield/forward SHIRT NUMBER: 13 CLUB: Wimbledon FORMER CLUBS: Trojans, Havant, Teddington, Surbiton SCHOOL: King Edward IV, Southampton Senior international debut: February 10 2003
MEDALS: One European gold, one Champions Trophy silver MAJOR TOURNAMENTS: Two Olympics, two World Cups, three European championships, two Commonwealth Games, two Champions Trophies
Main picture GB’s Rob Moore (left) takes on Argentina’s Pedro Ibarra in a test match at Lilleshall on November 18. Moore scored twice in the 3-2 win. The first test in the two-match series was a 2-2 draw
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