The modern history of hockey began in England with the founding of Blackheath, the world’s first club, in 1851. However, it was the British army that really allowed the sport to develop within numerous colonies (India, Pakistan, Australia, etc.) and offer it a world scope.

But the history of British hockey, which has taken many shifts and turns in the last century, really began at the 1908 Olympic Games where England took the Gold medal back to London, ahead of Ireland and Scotland. It would only be on Saturday 31 July 1948, however, that the GB team would first face Switzerland (0-0). Team GB is a team that groups English, Scottish, Northern Irish, and Welsh players under the same flag at each Olympic meet. Today, the group looks to be more solid than ever and ready to succeed under the Lion’s flag, finally looking to achieve a podium place at the Rio Games.

World ranking : 5
Number of players : 30,000
Championship : regular championship with 8 teams followed by play-offs
Olympic participations : 1920 (Gold), 1948 (Silver), 1952 (Bronze), 1956 (4th), 1960 (4th), 1964, 1968, 1972, 1984 (Bronze), 1988 (Gold) 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 (4th).
Key player : Ashley Jackson.