On the occasion of Sue Bodycomb’s final EuroHockey Competitions Committee meeting in Valencia last weekend, EuroHockey vice president Walter Kapounek awarded her the EuroHockey Diploma of Merit. 

Sue has been involved in EuroHockey committees since her first appointment to the Clubs Committee in 2008. 

Sue had many EuroHockey and FIH appointments as a judge and TD, with appointments throughout Europe and further afield, including an Olympic Qualifier in Delhi.

Sue was nominated for this award by Marijke Fleuren, EuroHockey Honorary President and they considered each other “colleagues on the journey”. They shared their experiences of the challenges that our clubs and federations face in the sport. Marijke and Sue also discussed and overcame the specific challenges faced by the women moving up through the sport.

Leaving aside the contribution of Sue to European Hockey, she has been for years one of the driving figures for hockey in England.

A lifelong member of Canterbury Hockey Club, for years she managed Canterbury women in the national league. Sue has volunteered at all levels of the game in roles at national and international levels. She has also served as Chair of the English Hockey League.

In 2019 she received England Hockey’s Member of Honour, having served two terms as President of England Hockey (2013-2019) and two as vice president.

In her role as President, Sue represented England Hockey at hundreds of events and was Head of the Delegation for England at international events including the 2018 Commonwealth Games