Paris 2024: SHC’s Olympic Review
By Surbiton HC
As the dust settles on an amazing fortnight of sport across the Channel, we reflect on the Olympic action for our Surbiton stars…
The GB Men started with a statement 4-0 victory over Spain, with SHC’s Nick Park opening the scoring with a fantastic solo effort (what a way to score your first GB goal!) and Gareth Furlong sending in a couple of trademark penalty corner rockets.
A pair of 2-2 draws against South Africa and Netherlands were then followed by a 2-1 win over hosts France, with former Surbiton junior Zach Wallace scoring a penalty stroke to help GB to a crucial three points. Furlong scored again in the final pool game against Germany, but the game finished in a 2-1 defeat. It was great to see SHC’s Tim Nurse make an appearance in this game.
And so to a repeat of the Tokyo quarter final against India. No one could have predicted the pattern of the game. A red card early in the second quarter left the opposition with ten men for the best part of 50 minutes, but a combination of disciplined Indian defence and missed chances for GB meant the match went to shoot outs. Despite the lads’ best efforts, the shoot out finished 4-2 in India’s favour, leaving GB wondering what might have been.
It was hard to know what to expect from the GB Women after an indifferent Pro League campaign but plenty of Olympic pedigree having medalled at the last three Games.
Defeats in the opening two matches (2-1 to Spain with a goal by Giselle Ansley and 4-0 to Australia) left GB in desperate need of points against South Africa and two of Surbiton’s finest delivered with Amy Costello scoring a PC and Hannah French smashing home a fantastic late volleyed finish from a brilliant cross-field Ansley overhead to win 2-1.
The Women put in their best performance of the Olympics in a 5-2 win over USA with SHC’s French and Sophie Hamilton scoring a goal apiece. The final pool game finished 3-0 to Argentina, leaving GB with a mammoth task against defending champions Netherlands in the quarter final.
French popped up with her third goal of the tournament to equalise after the Dutch had gone ahead inside a minute, but ultimately Dutch class told, with GB losing 3-1 to the eventual Olympic gold medallists.
A few statistics…
- Six Surbiton players travelled to Paris with the GB Men’s squad, with five taking to the pitch during the Olympics.
- Gareth Furlong was joint top scorer for the Men with three having only made his GB debut in June 2024.
- Five Surbiton players represented GB Women in Paris.
- GB Women scored nine goals in total, with six of these contributed by Surbiton players. A third of the Women’s goals were scored by Hannah French.
Inspired by what you've seen on the pitch in Paris? The first Premier Division home games of the new season take place on Saturday 21st September (Men's 1s vs Oxted) and Saturday 28th September (Women's 1s vs University of Nottingham). Get the dates in your diary - more details coming soon!
Well done to all of the Surbiton players in Paris. We are proud of you all!
