Old Georgians' Henry Weir On Fatherhood, Work & Pushing For More Success

The Hockey Paper's Rod Gilmour speaks to Old Georgians' Henry Weir ahead of his return to former club Wimbledon

The last time Old Georgians lost in the Men's Premier Division came on Henry Weir’s wedding day last October. “The only benefit for me not playing that game was that I invited James Bailey [the Wimbledon goalkeeper] and it still wasn’t enough,” joked Weir.

Four months on and Weir is finally relishing a first game against his old club this weekend. Impressively, their 2-0 defeat at Raynes Park was also the only time that Old Georgians have conceded a field goal this season, shipping just seven in 12 games overall. 

He said: “It will be great to be back. There are plenty of places where OGs haven’t won before, we did it against Surbiton last weekend and we are looking in good shape.”

Weir, 32, hasn’t officially retired from international hockey and says there is unfinished business as he sets his sights on a first Premier Division title with Old Georgians and a place in Europe for the first time.

In the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics, Weir broke his ankle on the first GB session back after the first lockdown. It came during a training ground accident and the injury took eight months to heal, which included an operation to insert a screw to strengthen his bone.

“It took me a long time to get back and it wasn’t long enough,” he said. Last April, Weir went with Great Britain for a tour to Malaysia but admitted he was short on fitness as the Olympic squad was being selected. His last game came at Lee Valley last May when he was called up as a replacement and was picked for the FIH Pro League against Spain. 

The decision to ultimately step back from the national programme was also confirmed after Weir and wife Rachael had a baby, Rosie, during lockdown. Despite fatherhood, GB Hockey were understanding and he was given the option to return after a conversation with then coach Danny Kerry.

“Unfortunately the international hockey programme doesn’t really cater for families or support a family,” said Weir, noting that England Hockey have been open for change after several meetings during his time as a full-time athlete.

Weir went into a recruitment job, which didn’t last long, before finding a role he “absolutely loves”. He now works for a company called Judicium Education as a relationship manager, selling legal advice to schools which need support. A remote job, it means he spends time with family while he is also now on time for Old Georgians’ training.

“The financial and life pressure ramps up with international hockey,” admitted Weir. “It was hard in my last cycle and lockdown. I may have lost some of that innocence and love of the sport. Now I have become a dad I have appreciated it more as the season has gone on and I have transitioned out of the programme.

“It’s been tough to explain to someone that you can go from being one of the top of your profession to getting your whole team locked out of a CRM because you have forgotten your password!”

Weir is now the oldest in his work team with the least experience. The roles were reversed 16 years ago in April when a junior Weir scored as Crewe Vagrants made club history by clinching the old NHL Division Two West title.

Weir’s family had moved north from Croydon to Crewe aged 11. He was the only junior training amongst the senior men before the club developed a flourishing junior programme. Weir said: “I learnt some great things from the men’s squad. We had the likes of Mark Bateman and Dave Holland, who was the top player and everyone thought should have gone on to play for a bigger club. He is now an England Master and strikes the sweetest ball you’ve seen off short corners. I owe an awful lot to them.”

Weir left Vagrants to go with Bateman to Brooklands for one season and the first introduction to Premier Division hockey before heading to Loughborough. That was the start of his England pathway, one which has so far yielded 185 combined senior caps.

Weir is part of an Old Georgians squad littered with experience, including 34-year-old Ashley Jackson. Weir said: “He’s still causing havoc for teams at Old Georgians. He is still playing some of the best hockey and is still one of the most talented best ball carriers. We are incredibly lucky to have him and for the GB players to be exposed to him.” 

Old Georgians will push back against Wimbledon five points better off at the top of the Men’s Premier Division and Weir admits it’s a two-horse race. “It’s going to be tight and out of the teams I've seen in the league, it’s us and Wimbledon,” he said.

“As a top six team, it’s a great structure,” he added of the new format this season. “Every single game is a great one and a top match up. For improving the quality of the league it’s great, for as long as you are in the 'Top 6'. But as a spectacle in bringing top quality hockey to the UK, it is so much better."