A fantastic first season in the England Hockey Premier Division for University of Nottingham Men's Hockey club has ended in style with sports scholar Conor Williamson being crowned Men’s Junior Performance Player of the Year at the 2023 England Hockey Awards. The defender is studying BSc Psychology and has combined his time at the university with his inclusion on the Great Britain Elite Development Programme, progressing into a prominent role in the under-21 set-up.
Reflecting on Conor's impact this year, University of Nottingham Sport's Head of Men's Performance Hockey James Bateman said; "Conor has excelled in the last 12 months both on and off the pitch. On the domestic scene, Conor has been a crucial member of the University of Nottingham team that finished 9th in the Premier League in their debut season. Playing in the heart of defence, Conor would regularly make game changing tackles. He battled it out with the best players in the country and consistently demonstrated his ability at the highest domestic level. When the pressure was on, Conor would step up and deliver whether that be an overtime corner to win the game or make a vital last tackle to keep the team in the contest.
On the International front, Conor has Captained the GB U21 squad this year. Having led them to the Europeans in the summer, Conor continued in the leadership role taking the team to the Sultan of Johor Cup. In almost identical fashion, Conor has stepped up in key moments for his country just as he has done for his club team. He has been getting better and better with every performance he puts in. This development has led to Conor being invited to train with the GB Senior squad on a number of occasion in which he has put in similarly impressive performances.
Conor’s dedication to being an elite athlete is outstanding and his diligence to training is first class. The commitment to changing habits with his nutrition choices and application to his strength and conditioning programme has transformed his performances on the pitch. Leading by example, Conor has been a fantastic role model for players and his kind hearted nature has enabled him to support other players in the difference environments, whether that be supporting someone making their way in the EDP or helping a first year student find their feet in a new city. Conor always has the time to support others and share his experiences, he is a true role model for any young athlete to make the most out of their natural abilities."
We would like to congratulate Conor on his success and look forward to supporting him and the club as they continue to progress.
You can find out more about
Performance Men's Hockey at the University of Nottingham here, and more on our
sport scholarships here.
Posted on Wednesday 5th July 2023