Bobby Crutchley signs new contract to remain GB Head Coach

Bobby Crutchley Rio

Great Britain Hockey has announced that Bobby Crutchley has signed a new contract to remain Men’s Head Coach through to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.

Following a thorough independent review process into the first full-time Men’s Central Training Programme; Great Britain and England Hockey unanimously decided that Crutchley should lead the new look squad, due to be announced in December, on their road to Tokyo.

The 46-year-old coach reflected on a “difficult few months” saying: “We’re obviously devastated that we didn’t get near where we wanted to in Rio despite a lot of hard work. The review process has been very comprehensive and tough. We’ve really delved into how we could have done better. It’s been a difficult experience, but also rewarding and will set us up well moving forwards.”  He continued: “There’s been a lot of soul searching for me personally but I am feeling excited and hungry to achieve medal success over the coming years.”

Crutchley’s aim is to win medals and Ed Barney, GB Hockey’s Performance Director, said he is delighted that Crutchley is staying on. Barney said: “I absolutely feel he is the right person to lead our men’s programme moving forward. We conducted a thorough review and there are a number of learnings from the last four years.  Without doubt, Rio was hugely disappointing for both the staff and the players in the men’s squad.  As an organisation we are absolutely clear that there can be no compromise on our goals. We do not accept a lack of medal winning performance looking forward; I have no doubt that Bobby is the right man to deliver international success in the men’s programme.”

With news on funding levels for the next four years and the announcement of the new centralised squads imminent, this period marks the start of a new chapter for the Great Britain squad. 

Crutchley said: “The start of a new cycle is a chance to freshen things up. We get a chance to start with a new focus. The players who are coming back in have had a decent break and will come back refreshed and ready to go again. The new ones bring a fresh perspective. We are ultimately in the business of winning hockey matches and tournaments and we’re excited to get going and to do that.”

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