Ashley Jackson

Ashley Jackson was a member of England mens hockey squad which won gold at the 2009 EuroHockey Championhips after making his Olympic debut at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Jackson made his England debut in November 2006 against the Netherlands, before going on to play in his first senior international tournament at the EuroHockey Nations Championships in Manchester in 2007. Sportsvibe caught up with Ashley for a quick chat........

1. How did you get into your sport?

Through school sport at 9 years old.

2. Tell us the best thing about your sport?

It's a high paced team sport.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration in your sport?

Barry Middleton, Dom Male and Ben Payne.

4. Do you admire anybody outside of your own sport?

Jonny Wilkinson

5. Who is the most competitive person that you have come up against in your sport and why?

Barry Middleton, always wants to win.

6. Do you have any pre game rituals or superstitions?

Not really, if we win then i will try and wear the same kit for the next game, washed or not!!

7. Tell us about your training schedule? What does it involve and how does it change, i.e. before matches?

It gets pretty busy in the build up to a major tournament and will involve weights and running sessions along side hockey sessions. We will often use some tournaments as a training phase in order to peak for the major tournament a few months down the line, so it would not be unusual to turn up to a minor tournament fatigued.

9. What is the most memorable moment in your sporting career to date? Why? 

European gold medal 2009, we were underdogs and nobody gave us a chance which I guess made it all that more sweet!

10. What do you want to achieve next in your sport? What are your goals?

Next I guess would be to medal at the World Cup in March. My goals would be to help England become and to be a great team and also to medal in all major tournaments.

11. If you hadn’t of been a hockey player, what would you have done?

Maybe a cricketer but definitely some kind of sportsman.

12. What will you do after your sporting career is over?

Urm...not sure at the moment, fingers crossed thats a long way off.

13. What music do you listen to? What’s the last thing song you listened to on your i-pod?

I listen to a range of music but enjoy the chilled out scene. Meet me halfway - Black Eyed Peas.

14. What do you do on a day off/in your spare time?

Play some golf, chill out with mates etc.

15. If you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend it?

Doing something unbelievably amazing!!

16. What is your favourite film?

Any Given Sunday, Gladiator.

17. Do you get any strange fan mail?

Nope.

18. What is the funniest thing you’ve read/heard about yourself in the media?

A journalist once asked me about my pet monkey.

19. Tell us a joke about your sport?

I don’t know any!

20. what are your guilty pleasures?

Chocolate.