Chesterfield hockey stalwart eager to view sport from a different perspective

Hockey stalwart Christian Battye says he is looking forward to seeing the sport from a totally different perspective.
Christian Battye watches on from the sidelines.Christian Battye watches on from the sidelines.
Christian Battye watches on from the sidelines.

Battye (37) called time on his proud playing career at the end of last season to pursue his coaching ambitions at Chesterfield Hockey Club.

In total Battye made more than 300 league appearances since making his first team debut for Chesterfield at the tender age of 15.

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And for Battye the move is a natural progression as he looks to continue the journey in his beloved sport.

“I have retired as much as you can as a player at this level,” he said. “I won’t play in the first team, but I will play at a lower level in the club when I can.

“All of a sudden I have gone from being one of the main players to that old guy.

“I am 37 now and have got two lads in the side whose dads I played with.

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“It is going to feel weird not playing, but coaching is where my passion is. It is a natural progression and I am looking forward to it.

“I have plenty of experience to pass on and I’m looking forward to helping the younger players and club develop.”

And Battye, who was inspired into hockey after watching the GB men’s team win gold at the 1988 Olympics, is confident the transition will be a smooth one.

“I have been player-coaching for a while and mentally I have already switched over to coach mode,” he said. “The time you spend keeping fit and training as a player has been replaced with coaching stuff.

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“Some weeks you would train well and play well in the game and other weeks you have spent the week sorting off field things out and being focused on that, so you are just not prepared to play when the whistle goes.

“When you are a player coach you tend to miss a lot. Last year I was injured for the back end of the season and I found you pick up so much more.

“There is nothing like stepping away in training, you see so much more. When you are a player coach you are focused on the ball and playing your own game.”

Battye was in the process of collecting his advancing hockey coach licence from GB Hockey before coronavirus struck.

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He is also the head coach for the East Midlands performance centre, which is one of 16 regional centres that form part of the England junior hockey pathway scheme.

Hockey is currently suspended across the country until 13th June.

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