Team GB hockey player Ben Hawes has paid tribute to Surbiton Hockey Club after landing a spot at his third Olympics last week.
Hawes, who has starred for Wimbledon over the past two years, was named as part of head coach Jason Lee’s 18-man squad for the 2012 Games last week.
It makes it a hat-trick of Olympic appearances for The 31-year-old after featuring at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, when he was the Sugden Road ranks.
And while Hawes, who still lives in Surbiton, was delighted to represent Wimbledon in Stratford, he spared a thought for his former club.
“I am massively honoured to be picked and represent Wimbledon,” he said.
“A lot of being so is thanks to our director of hockey Ben Marsden, himself a former Olympian, and everyone else at the club, for being so flexible in allowing me to train and be absent on international duty.
“I also owe Surbiton a lot for my Olympic career, especially in helping me through some very dark days with injury problems.”
Hawes left Surbiton to join Wimbledon in 2010 and now has 125 England caps to his name and scored 25 times, plus 88 caps and 20 goals for Great Britain.
Team GB lost 1-2 and won 3-1 in two practice internationals against Holland behind closed doors at the Olympic Park pitch last Thursday and Friday.
Olympic coverage
Click here for Olympic news, views and information
Click here to follow our Olympic coverage on Twitter
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here