How Emma Thomas Has Combined NHS Work and Top Flight Bid

The Hockey Paper's Rod Gilmour speaks to Reading’s Emma Thomas on her fine career as she looks ahead to the club’s key encounter against Sevenoaks this weekend. Images by Helen Ritchie Photography

Dr Emma Thomas first played for Reading women as a school sixth former back in 2003/04. “It was a nice shock to the system to discover some players today weren’t even alive when I first started playing," she says. “I remember rocking up with Abi Harper, I don’t recall the game but I remember enjoying it. It is a blurred but positive memory."

Thomas has been a key cog in Reading’s trophy-laden past and, aged 35, is still going strong for her club. Promoted to the Premier Division in 2008, she captained Reading from 2010 for eight years. During that time, Reading won two Championships, in 2011 and 2013, the latter seeing the club record ‘the triple’, winning the National Indoor Championship, Premier Division title and EuroHockey Club Champions trophy.

This weekend, the Vitality Women's Division 1 South leaders play a crunch fixture against second-placed Sevenoaks, a match which may well decide promotion to the top flight - Reading were relegated in 2016/17 - given how well-matched both teams are.

“They are a very strong team and we had a really competitive game in the first half of the season,” Thomas said ahead of the match. “We have known for a while that this weekend would be a really big game. There were six goals (3-3) the last time we played and both teams will have to be at their best if they want a result.

“I loved my time playing in the Premier Division and from a personal perspective I still feel capable of doing so again. From a club perspective it would be fabulous for us and the men both to return. We are fortunate we have very good coaches and also schools near us. I love being challenged and if we can get back towards that, it would be a great positive.

“It’s an exciting and talented team this season and it’s been building for some time. We were knocking on the door of promotion before Covid and it’s been an accumulation of hard work from people over a number of years.”

Reading have conceded one goal during their last six consecutive wins in Division One South, their defence bolstered by England and Great Britain goalkeeper Amy Tennant. “She is absolutely fabulous, a brilliant goalkeeper and a great communicator,” admits Thomas. “She made an absolutely incredible save last weekend, which reminded us how wonderful it is for her to be our last line of defence. We’ve had a good back up when Amy was in Argentina recently and we also have a really strong back line which makes a difference.”

The Reading stalwart has played all bar one season in nearly 20 years with her beloved club. In 2018, she spent a year working in A&E and major trauma in Adelaide (alongside beaches and playing hockey). She played for Burnside HC, made possible by a former Kiwi team-mate at Reading, whose best friend had played at the Adelaide club. Thomas played her first game some 20 hours after landing in Adelaide. "That's the great positive about hockey and the amazing connections you make all over the world."

She is now back working as a GP in a small village in Oxfordshire, alongside her continuing club commitments. “Every club goes through a transition period, players move jobs, go to university or house,” she said of her longevity. “I am so privileged with the amount of hockey players I have got to play with at Reading.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be mentored by some phenomenal hockey names in this country and of course I want to do that for other people. That’s how we get on in life, to help other people who come behind us. It’s what I am about; I love to help people and get alongside people and it’s part of playing a team sport.”

For Thomas, Kate Richardson-Walsh stands out from a leadership perspective. The Rio Olympian played for Reading alongside Thomas and was also captain with Great Britain for a large portion of that time. “I can’t be sure she even meant to do it, but she gave me hints and tips and was unassuming in her way of teaching me.”

Before her departure to Australia, Thomas, who is revered at the club, was awarded the Holt Cup by Reading, for her 'commitment to the ladies’ section and dedication to the club over the years.'

One story stands out. A then under-eight player had self diagnosed himself with a broken knee and Thomas went over to help and examine the junior. She told him that she played hockey and was a doctor. “He was so impressed,” club members were told at the annual awards’ night, “that he forgot his broken knee and promptly ran off telling everyone that he was amazed that a hockey player can be a doctor too!”

Thomas laughs at the memory. "It's not that easy to do," she says of the work-life balance. "I've been very lucky with support from Reading to make it possible. My whole time at medical school I was playing and I captained Reading for my first four years as a doctor, which was a pretty stressful and busy time.

"The club and coaches deserve a lot of credit for making it possible for me to do both. It wasn't easy but they made it feel like it was."

Saturday: Reading v Sevenoaks, 4:30pm (Sonning Lane)