The University of Nottingham

John Land is proof that you’re never too old to play competitive sport.

Believed to be the University’s earliest Olympian, John (Metallurgy 1962) represented Great Britain at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and is still playing hockey today.

Now 75, he turns out for England Senior Grand Masters and last year was England’s vice-captain in the Over 70s’ section of the Great Grand Masters Hockey World Cup. Veterans’ hockey has taken off in the last 10 years with players, like John, who have given more than 50 years of their lives to the sport, touring Europe and the World representing their countries.

John was in the University hockey team which won and retained what was then the University Athletics Union (now BUCS) Championships for three years in the early 1960s – the last time the University won it.

“I seem to remember we asked them if the trophy belonged to us now!” said John. “It was a very good three years’ team. We socialised together and so got on well together off and on the pitch.”

Another member of that highly successful squad was Arthur Ferryman (Civil Engineering 1962). Both men have sent us photos and remember the following as members of the squad around that time: Dave Langridge, Keith Foster, Harry Brown, Dave Chapelle, David De Boorman, Ian Sutton, Don Langford, captain Martin King, Dickie Bough, Guy Spurling and David Gaffney – another who went on to play for England.

Nottingham is still a strong hockey University. Current student Harry Martin was an Olympian at London 2012 while Rob Moore (Industrial Economics 2003) has represented Team GB in three Olympics. Others who have made it into the senior ranks include Ben Arnold, Nick Catlin and George Pinner.