George Pinner never set out to become one of Britain’s finest hockey goalkeepers. Football was his first love – hockey, he says, only entered the frame because of a childhood cold.
“I was about 10,” he recalls. “I’d been off school and Mum said I could only go in for sport if I went in goal. That was it – my first time between the posts in hockey. A complete sliding doors moment, and one I’m very grateful for.”
From that chance afternoon grew a career that spanned 195 combined England and Great Britain caps, two Commonwealth bronze medals, and Olympic appearances in London and Rio. At his peak, Pinner was recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Football’s Loss, Hockey’s Gain
Pinner’s size – 6ft 4in – made him a natural goalkeeper, but he never quite found joy in football’s lonely outpost. “I loved being a centre-back – heading everything, tackling hard, making sure I got man and ball. Whenever I played in goal I was decent, but I found it boring. With hockey it was different. The kit made it feel special, almost like being a transformer. And I loved how much influence I could have on a game.”
That influence quickly became obvious. Within a year of first trying the position, he was playing county hockey; by his early teens, he was in the England junior system. International call-ups felt inevitable, but when his Great Britain debut arrived in 2007 – against Holland, no less – it still caught him off guard.
“One minute I was revising for exams, the next I was playing one of the best teams in the world,” Pinner told Fen Regis Trophies. “It all happened very quickly.”
London Calling
Pinner was selected as reserve goalkeeper for the London 2012 Olympics – a bittersweet role but one he now treasures.
“At the time you just want to play, of course. But looking back, it was incredible. I met the Queen, had Harry and William dropping into the apartment, played in front of sell-out crowds. You don’t always appreciate how special it is until years later.”
That experience lit a fire. “I told Mum and Dad after London: I’ve got to play at the next one. Everything went into that.”
By Rio 2016, he was first choice. “Walking out as an Olympian, being the one in goal – that was everything I’d worked for. Results-wise, it didn’t click for us, which was frustrating, but being there as number one meant the world.”
Bronze and Beyond
The Commonwealth Games brought Pinner the medals that define his career. Bronze in 2016 ended a long wait for England men, while 2018 was even more special – his wife, England forward Jo Hunter, winning bronze at the same tournament.
“Standing on the podium together with both families there – that was the pinnacle. People underestimate what it means to win bronze, but those were some of the proudest moments of my life.”
Individually, too, Pinner hit the top. At the 2016 Champions Trophy he was named best goalkeeper of the tournament. “For those two weeks, I knew I was the best in the world. Awards don’t usually matter, but that one did. It was validation that all the hard work had paid off.”
Knowing When to Stop
Pinner called time on his international career in 2021, though not without mixed feelings.
“Goalkeeping is subjective. You can play well and still not be picked. By the end, I’d lost a bit of love for it. But I’d had more ups than downs, and I was realistic – at 34, it was the right time.”
At club level, however, he enjoyed a renaissance. With Old Georgians, he won three straight league titles and capped his final season with a Champions League bronze medal.
“I wanted to finish playing my way, on my terms. Those last seasons were some of my best. By the end it was obvious the time was right, and I could walk away proud.”
Life After the Pads
Unlike many ex-players, Pinner hasn’t moved straight into coaching. “I’m not a head coach type – it’s not me. What I enjoy is mentoring, giving little bits of advice, sharing experiences. That’s where I can add value.”
Instead, his day-to-day life is now in change management, helping businesses navigate major tech transformations. “It sounds different, but it’s not. It’s about resilience, adapting, dealing with sudden change. Sport gave me all that, and I use it every day.”
A Lasting Impact
From the boy dragged reluctantly into goal to a player who shaped British hockey’s modern era, George Pinner’s story is proof that even the most unlikely beginnings can lead to greatness.
“I always believed I could win my team a game,” he says. “Anyone can score – but I could keep a clean sheet. That was my impact. And that’s what kept me going.”
