PETE ATKINS

UK Lions hockey are extremely sad to announce that pne of their founders Pete Atkins passed away on boxing day 2017.

Pete was bigger than life and a well loved character throughout the hockey world and no more than with the UK Lions.

Pete touched many lives of past and present UK Lions players and their parents around the country.  His love and passion of the game of hockey and his tireless hard work over the years with the UK Lions in growing to what we are today in producing many future international players.

When we think of Pete, we think of his friendship and inspiration he has given over the years to Hockey and UK Lions, and he will be dearly missed by everyone and all those around him.

Our thoughts and our deepest sympathy are with his family at this time.

RIP Pete

Extract from Portsmouth HC website:

PETER JOHN ATKINS

25TH MAY 1951 – 26TH DECEMBER 2017

“You can let the ball go past you or the player go past you but not both!”

Pete Atkins, Head coach and joint founder of City of Portsmouth Hockey Club, died of a heart attack in the Queen Alexandra Hospital, on Boxing Day 2017.
Pete was educated at Southern Grammar School, but interestingly did not pick up a hockey stick until he attended Milton St George Teacher Training College, a subsidiary of Durham University. Upon qualification as a teacher he moved back south and started playing for the Southsea Hockey Club.

For many years he was a P.E. and occasional maths teacher starting at Kingston Modern Boys School and moving to City Boys School in 1975. As well as hockey, Pete ran successful football, handball and cricket teams winning many local and National trophies, on retirement he worked for Tescos enabling him to focus on his interests.

His greatest love was Hockey which he encouraged within the school and the City of Portsmouth Hockey Club. He was responsible for the early development of many Hampshire, South of England, England U16, U18, U21 and full International Players, the latter include Russell Garcia, the youngest player at the time to win a gold medal, at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Jimi Lewis, Callum Giles and most recently Richard Smith followed on in representing their country at various Olympic Games.

Although never an outstanding player himself, over the years he played for every club team from first XI to his greatest love, the junior development side. Pete was always happiest when coaching young players where he could be most influential in guiding their future development. Pete’s love for the game transcended club loyalty and he made telling coaching contributions not only to City of Portsmouth Hockey Club but also Fareham, Havant College, the County and the South Regional team. He was also heavily involved with the organisation and running the Islanders Annual tournament.

One of his greatest achievements however was being an influential part of the setting up and development of the U.K. Lions in 2003. The aim of this side is to give players at the age of 13 the opportunity to play very high quality representative hockey within a caring, nurturing and above all, fun and friendly atmosphere. Pete was at the heart of establishing a deeply rooted culture, in which young players, selected from across the UK, could thrive and aspire both as players and young people growing into adult hood. For nearly fifteen years he led the way in providing the highest quality coaching, building confidence and self-belief, the desire to do well and encourage top class skills in every player.

All the players loved him and totally trusted his pearls of wisdom, sage advice and mentoring. Pete touched a great many of the lives of past and present players and their families, not only locally, but from all around the UK. A huge hole has been left and words do not make up for the sadness for his loss to the game.

Pete was also a stalwart within the umpiring world and made telling contributions to the Hampshire and Southern Counties Hockey Umpires Association where he made many friends and helped countless other umpires improve their game.

Whilst his hockey career may have been defined by his successes on and off the pitch for those people that are closest to him he will be remembered for his unique sense of humour, his humility and his passion for everything in which he was involved. Most of all, however, he was the most generous and unassuming of people who helped an untold number of people and causes quietly and behind the scenes, often with an open wallet!

Pete loved art and was quite an artist himself. He also loved golf not only playing but through his involvement with Cams Golf Club as a marshall and with The Portsmouth International Golf Society. He was also a great lover of good food and wine and there are many happy memories of him tucking into to a plate of food especially whilst enjoying the company of his friends on their many of ‘cultural’ trips abroad.

His legacy is clear for all to see, not only the influence he’s had on the game of hockey but also on all who knew him, were coached by him, laughed with him and were helped by him and we all have our own unforgettable and special memories.

Pete’s funeral will be held at the Oaks Crematorium in Havant at 4pm on the 22nd January. Family flowers only but donations, if desired, to The British Heart Foundation or Pancreatic Cancer UK. (cheques only made out to the charities) c/o Michael Miller and Partners Ltd., 27a HighStreet, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 3JR

An event to celebrate the life of Pete, will be held at a later date.

And as a tribute to Pete we have the following to announce…….

The Copper Box Indoor tournament was played on 30th and 31st December. A tribute was made to Pete. The Winners of the Boys U18 was Leicester who had 7 out of their 10 man squad as Ex UK Lions….

Tom Moorhouse, 2015, 2016.

Rohan Bhuhi, 2013, 2014

Yuvraj Bhuhi, 2015, 2016, 2017

Zain Girach, 2014

Ben Newcombe, 2013, 2014

Charlie Dowse, 2016

Aneesh Deogan, 2013