Indoor hockey is about precision, speed and control under pressure - and East Grinstead Hockey Club is the benchmark.
Few clubs anywhere can match East Grinstead’s indoor pedigree. Fourteen National Indoor titles for the men, five for the women - all claimed in the last decade. And as of February 2025, EG Women sit proudly as current English Champions, lifting the trophy once again at Derby Arena.
This is a club where indoor hockey isn’t a winter sideline. It’s part of the DNA.
With their own indoor hall on site - complete with fixed video analysis - East Grinstead have created an environment where detail, development and elite performance are non-negotiable.
A Legacy Forged Indoors
East Grinstead’s indoor journey began in 1986 with the club’s first national title, earning them a place in an unofficial European tournament in Amiens the following year. Led by Olympic gold medallist Richard Leman, EG battled past Swiss opposition before falling narrowly to the French hosts in the final - a sign of what was to come.
At that time, Leman was partnered in defence by his namesake, Richard Organ, a figure who would go on to play a defining role in the club’s indoor evolution.
The early 1990s brought fierce domestic rivalries, particularly with St Albans at the iconic Crystal Palace finals. By 1993, EG had secured a second national title and stepped onto the official European stage, facing the emerging power of German club hockey in Cologne. Encounters with Olympians such as Volker Fried underlined both the standard required - and the ambition of the club.
European campaigns, appearances at the Glenfiddich International Tournament and clashes with elite continental opposition followed. Even through periods of transition, East Grinstead retained their place at the top table.
The next chapter began in 2006 with another national crown. What followed was dominance. A sustained run of titles that ultimately delivered the 14 championships the men hold today - each unlocking the opportunity to test themselves against Europe’s best in the EuroHockey Indoor Club competitions.
This era was triggered by Richard Organ’s leadership, initially at the helm and later in support, alongside a succession of top-flight indoor coaching talent including Scott Ashdown, Richard Payne and Tim Deakin. During this period, a young Ross Stott began to assume an increasingly influential assistant role, helping to shape the next generation of success.
The current men's squad are led by East Grinstead club legend Wes Jackson who is a passionate advocate of indoor hockey, played in several title winning sides including in Europe , and represented the club for over a decade on the field.
Champions Wear Blue & White
Great teams attract great players - and East Grinstead’s indoor story is filled with them.
German Olympic champions and national captains Martin Häner and Mats Grambusch have worn EG colours. Czech goalkeeping legend Filip Neusser - widely regarded as the world’s finest indoor goalkeeper - has guarded the goal. On the domestic front, English greats including Ashley Jackson, Barry Middleton, Glenn Kirkham, Iain Lewers and Mark Pearn have all represented the club.
For the past decade, Simon Faulkner has been the heartbeat of the men’s side - a leader and one of the most complete indoor players of his generation.
Goalkeeping excellence runs just as deep. Ian Taylor, Paddy Smith and, on the women’s side, Kirsty Mackay have all played critical roles between the posts.
The Rise of EG Women
East Grinstead’s women have built a modern dynasty. And where Richard Organ was a catalyst for the men’s programme, his long-time partner Mary Booth proved equally transformative for the women.
The foundations were laid through youth success, including U18 national gold in 2013 and silver in 2014. In January 2024, EGHC’s U18 girls reclaimed the national title at Nottingham University - and will return to the finals again on 24 January 2026.
At senior level, 2014 marked EG Women’s first season in the Premier Division. A creditable fifth-place finish - just one point short of the top-four playoffs - hinted at what was to come. One year later, East Grinstead reached their first National Indoor Final, losing to Bowdon.
That 2015 semi-final has become part of indoor folklore. Sophie Bray scored the decisive goal past an onrushing Maddie Hinch - then representing Slough indoors - to secure EG’s place in the final. Bray’s injury ahead of the final may have influenced the outcome, but reaching their first national final was the defining milestone.
The breakthrough came in January 2016, with further titles following in 2019 and 2022 - the first three overseen by Mary Booth, alongside the club’s early European adventures. The 2024 and 2025 titles saw Theo Dowse take the reins, continuing the winning tradition.
Twice - in 2016 and 2019 - East Grinstead Men and Women lifted their respective national trophies on the same day, a feat rarely achieved in English hockey history.
The quality throughout has been exceptional. Laura Unsworth’s iconic, uninterrupted 80-minute performance in the 2016 finals remains legendary. International stars from the Netherlands, Spain, Australia and Poland have blended seamlessly with England internationals and emerging homegrown talent.
As Simon Faulkner embodies the men’s success, the women’s era has been defined by captain Chloe Brown - a player who owns the indoor court like few others ever have. East Grinstead Women’s most capped player of all time, she personifies the intensity, intelligence and competitive edge of the indoor game. Another notable name being Carlota Rodriguez from Spain, forming the backbone of the modern day East Grinstead success.
Alongside her, Biba Mills represents the future. Indoor hockey runs in her family, and with 100 career indoor goals already to her name, she is rapidly becoming one of the sport’s defining figures.
*Photography by Eva Gilbert
Why Indoor Matters
So what’s the secret?
Hard work. Repetition. Commitment to detail.
Indoor hockey is unforgiving. A ball lifting by a centimeter becomes a free hit against you. That reality sharpens technique, discipline and concentration like nothing else. East Grinstead train relentlessly - at their home hall and across multiple local venues - because indoor demands it.
But it’s more than execution. Indoor hockey teaches spatial awareness, angles and teamwork. Smaller spaces, fewer players and faster decisions force clarity of thought. The constant analysis of space, the creation of triangles and collective decision-making transfer directly to the outdoor game.
For East Grinstead, indoor hockey isn’t just about trophies - though there are plenty of those. It’s about developing complete hockey players.
And that belief is exactly why they continue to set the standard.
