GODALMING two-time hockey Olympian Dan Fox, director of hockey at Charterhouse School, has won the prestigious UK player of the year awards chosen by members of the Hockey Writers’ Club.

Dan won the player of the year award for the first time in what was his final international season.

He announced his international retirement late 2016, in a year which included his second Olympic Games, where the 33-year-old reinforced his reputation as a fearless penalty corner runner and a strong defender, despite Great Britain finished a disappointing ninth in the tournament.

“I am very flattered to win,” he said. “It is a great honour and something I didn’t really expect.

“Having retired from international hockey a few months ago, I had put that behind me. I am really delighted.

“For GB men’s squad it was an up-and-down year. We put in some good performances and then clearly there was the disappointment of Rio where things didn’t quite go our way.

“For me, leading the Great Britain side – in Barry Middleton’s absence – at the World League Finals in Raipur in late 2015 was a hugely proud moment. I played well there but as part of a team that did well.

“What was best about that tournament was we took a quite a young squad, but we competed.

“We beat Australia 5-2 which was the biggest win we’ve had against them in a number of years. Alongside all those other blokes who were playing well it was a great opportunity to prove myself and take a leading role in the side.

Dan added: “The club hockey I’ve played at Holcombe, and Hampstead and Westminster before that, has been a big part of my success. I feel lucky to have been part of the Great Britain programme for so long and to have gone to two Olympic Games.”