Ex-GB and England hockey goalkeeper Pinner retires

A hockey goalkeeper who represented Great Britain and England 195 times said he would look back at his career with "delight" after announcing his retirement from the sport.

George Pinner, who was born in Ipswich, played for Great Britain's men at the 2016 Olympic Games and twice won Commonwealth Games bronze with Team England in 2014 and 2018.

Pinner, 38, retired from internationals in 2021 to focus on playing domestic hockey, but said he now wanted to spend more time enjoying family life.

Describing his decision to retire from all forms of the sport, he said: "When you know, you know."

Pinner, who has won seven English Hockey League titles including three with current club Old Georgians, said: "It was very clear to me halfway through this season that the end of the season would be the time to stop [playing]."

Reflecting on his career at both national and international level, he said: "The thing that stands out is the memories around those things [tournaments].

"The teammates that become very close friends, the celebrations afterwards, the laughs in the changing rooms. Those are the things that I will miss the most."

He said: "It [your playing career] goes so quickly. As soon as one tournament is over you're looking forward to the next.

"It's only now that I look and think, 'wow, did I really experience all of that?' If you told me at 14 [years old] that I'd go on to achieve even a quarter of that [my accomplishments], I'd be delighted."

Pinner said he planned to take a break from the sport, but added that "mentoring [young players] and passing on advice is something I like doing", and said a future off-field role in the sport was something he would consider in the future.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.