How Legend Ashley Jackson Finally Celebrated His First League Title

Rod Gilmour of The Hockey Paper hears from Ashley Jackson after Old Georgians lifted their first major outdoor title.

Ashley Jackson says it was a 'very good night' down the Old Crown in Weybridge. Old Georgians had ventured there last Saturday evening after sealing their first Men’s Premier Division title at the club where he had spent three spells since 2003.

Yet, this was the first time that Jackson had won English hockey’s domestic title, meaning that celebrations also took on extra prominence.

“It was a shame we didn't have everyone there as some of the boys were at Pro League and it was also a shame we didn’t manage to do it the weekend before when we were at home,” said the 34-year-old great of British hockey. “But once everyone was at The Crown with the rest of the club it was a great night.”

The pub was an apt place for OGs to celebrate given that the club was formed there during the mid-Nineties. Following National League inclusion in 2003, they have enjoyed an inextricable rise to the top in less than 20 years.

“We are seeing it throughout the club and the women’s 1s are also making a climb up the leagues,” said Jackson. “There are a number of 2s boys who have been a part of the club and first team since we were in the lower leagues, as well as long-standing friendships between a lot of the players throughout the club. I’m sure it’s no different to many other clubs but it has been great to be part of.”

Jackson says that he had 'always been scuppered by the play-offs' in his chase for outdoor domestic honours over the years. He had topped the league three times at the end of the normal season with East Grinstead and former club Holcombe before losing out to various rivals in the League Play-Off finals.

Last Saturday he achieved the league title, ironically, at East Grinstead, the club he began his hockey with as a 14-year-old; while the two years when he left East Grinstead for Dutch side HGC, the West Sussex club claimed two league Championships in a row.

“To do it with some close friends, and players I’ve been with where we haven’t managed success … it was nice to share it with them as well,” added Jackson. “It’s who you do it with and who you spend time with which is the most important thing.”

Jackson returned from his second spell at HGC in 2018 to join Old Georgians in the Conference before promotion to the top flight for the first time in 2019. This was followed by European qualification in their first full season completed in the Premier Division.

“It is something that the club set out to do and Europe is where they want to be playing, to represent England,” said Jackson. “I remember sitting down with a number of different faces and hearing how they wanted to create something for either their kids and the juniors who would like to be part of, to keep them in hockey as opposed to losing them to other more attractive sports on TV.

“Football is not a good measuring stick for hockey. I guess we are trying to follow rugby as a sport we can aspire to, but that is a long way off. But if you are up at The Stoop, or go round on a stadium tour, the kids will be buzzing to be part of that, as opposed to a school pitch in the middle of a field where you can’t quite create the same buzz, or changing in a sports centre.

“But we are doing the best with what we have with the younger generations who want to be a part of that and so far we have done a good job with OGs. Hopefully in the years to come that will start to show through.”

Jackson has 'jumped on the ice when I can' this season, as he continued to juggle both field and ice hockey commitments this season. But his packed schedule with Old Georgians after Christmas left him to focus on the outdoor version.

With two games left in the season, he has now been part of an Old Georgians side which has so far leaked only two goals in open play this season.

“There has been a great balance through everyone’s individual hockey skills but also their personalities,” said Jackson of the newly-installed champions.

At the back, their tight defence has included Henry Weir, Kyle Marshall and Liam Sanford. “You will do well to name a better player in the league this year,” Jackson said also of team-mate Dan Shingles.

He added: “Players have been buying into what we are about and a lot of that is down to the mindset and their approach to the game, as opposed to ‘X’ and ‘O’ on the board. Yes, we have some of those but there is a willingness to make up for each other’s mistakes and solve any problems which need ironing out on the pitch, as opposed to moaning about problems and not solving the issues while we are out there for each other.

“That has been the biggest thing for us this year, that willingness to keep the ball out of the goal, knowing that when we win the ball and how we create turnovers will give us plenty of opportunity to go forwards.”

The positive outlook on the pitch during a season when the sport came out of pandemic is reflected in Jackson’s own mindset as part of his added role on the coaching staff alongside Mike Hughes.

“As it does in life, not just in hockey,” added Jackson. “In our sport, as in others, you have the ability to be able to complement each other on the pitch. And when you find those right combinations, mindset and willingness for each other, that becomes more important than anything else. It seems to be the quickest way for success.”

Holcombe v Old Georgians, Sunday 1:15pm