Bobby Crutchley, Top Bloke

Having written a few words already this week after Bobby Crutchley's resignation as England and GB Coach after 6 years in charge, and longer as assistant to Jason Lee, I want to add to what I have already posted on Twitter and Facebook. 

I have known Bob since my playing days (he is much younger than me, he was starting, I was finishing!) and then witnessed his talent and dedication as an international player when I was in the Management Teams of the squads he was in. I then worked with him when he became a Regional Coach in the early days of Lottery Funding, continuing as he worked his way up through the International Coaching set-up, assisting with women and men. Our relationship has continued ever since and we have been part of many Management Teams together including the Beijing and London Olympics. We were both also in Rio, and although he was heading up the men and I was managing the women, we were all very much part of the "Hockey Team" within Team GB.  

He has always been a thoughtful and intelligent coach and it has been a pleasure sharing the (mostly) good times with him. Jason, Bob and David Bunyan took England and GB teams from avoiding relegation from the A Division of the European Cup in 2005, by the skin of our teeth, to being serious medal contenders on the  World stage reaching World and Olympic semi-finals AND winning the European Cup in 2009 for the first and only time to date.

I remember Colin Batch, then coach of Belgium, saying to me after our win in Amsterdam, that "England had taken goal scoring by diving and deflecting to a new level in World Hockey." This was primarily down to Bob who had been tasked by Jason to devise practices for this as daily events. The athletes grew in confidence, became extremely proficient, and performed brilliantly. (I was surprised to see that the 2009 Gold Medal win was not included in the Press Release published earlier this week. Don't forget it, it was very good).

As Head Coach, Bob has had more success than he has been given credit for. The only real "blip" was the Rio Olympics. Sadly this is what the media focus on and, because of this focus, the people remember. That's "life" I suppose but Bob has continued and improved the legacy that Jason put in place and which, apart from Rio, has provided top 5 finishes and above since 2006. This is actually the most sustained period of England and GB men's success in the modern era. (Remember that the 1988 Olympic Gold medal was the peak of a six year period, 1984-1990, and up to Rio, Jason, Bob and David presided over 10 years in the top 5).

So, I for one would like to pay tribute to Bob as he bows out. As Sally Munday so rightly pointed out, the stresses and strains of coaching at the top of International Hockey are considerable and the pressure on family life is enormous. Add to that lack of job security and nothing like the remuneration received by those in similar positions in other sports! Bob has given his all; his dedication has been enormous and he has played his part in leaving a solid foundation for his successor to inherit. I am sure his experience will be sought after by many as he has seen so much that will be useful to others striving to do as well as he has done. Good luck Bob, you deserve it mate...