Wed 23 May, 2012
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England: EHL: Spy in the shower dampens Reading's celebrations  x13
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| Planet Field Hockey |
April 29, 2002 
The Times
> Page Views 3133
By Cathy Harris
READING have made no secret of their dislike of the play-offs, but they did their talking on the pitch yesterday with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Surbiton to book their place in next Monday?s Premiership final at Beeston.
Their resolute and skilful performance was a credit to the game but Jon Copp, the team coach, came off the pitch fuming at Surbiton?s sly efforts to eavesdrop on Reading?s half-time team talk.
Copp revealed that one of his squad saw Brett Garrard positioned in the showers next to Reading?s dressing-room preparing to listen in. One of the Reading players alerted Copp after seeing Garrard in conversation with Jon Royce, Surbiton?s director of coaching.
?I am outraged,? Copp said. ?I think what Surbiton did was disgraceful and I question their integrity when we are doing all we can to be thoroughly professional. When we found out I let him know in no uncertain terms what I felt and we moved our team talk upstairs.?
Garrard, who played in the 2000 Olympic Games and the recent World Cup in Kuala Lumpur but is injured at present, later apologised to Copp, saying he was in the wrong. Royce, who was involved in controversy after allegations of bullying as the Great Britain women?s coach, refused to comment.
On the pitch, Matt Daly shot Surbiton ahead from a penalty corner in the third minute, but once the home team settled they hit back with two scintillating goals by Mark Pearn and Andy Todd. Ken Robinson and Simon Towns, the New Zealand pair, sealed victory with two superb goals after the break.
Reading?s opponents will be the winners of the clash between Cannock and Surbiton after the Midlands club defeated Loughborough Students 3-2. Cannock scored through Andy West, Martin Jones and Simon Organ.
In the women?s play-offs, Jane Smith, Slough?s Great Britain striker, helped herself to a hat-trick as her side crushed Olton 6-1. Sarah Kelleher scored twice Sam Wright added the sixth as Slough showed why they cruised to the league title in the regular season.
Leicester set up an all-Midland clash against Olton on Saturday for the right to meet Slough in the final after Anne Panter, Jennie Bimson, Sarah Blanks and Helen Richardson scored in a comfortable 4-0 win against Ipswich.
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Comments on this article
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tut tut
04-30-2002 7:27 am
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unprincipled royce
it's the mark of the man - dishonest cheats don't change their spots
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Todd
04-30-2002 10:04 am
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Roycey should be banned from any Hockey at all!!!!!!!!
Bullying and now cheating!!!!
If it was school he would be kicked out!!!!
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Morpheus
04-30-2002 11:54 am
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Is Anybody Really Suprised?!!?
I feel the remarks by 'Tut Tut' & Todd are just.
'Cheats Never Prosper', how true that is, and those who cheat do so because they're not as talented as they wish others to believe.
It seems Mr Royce is taking the James Bond/ George Smiley thing too far!!
What's your next plan for world domination Royce?! Planting a mole in every Premiership side by the start of next season!?!
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quincy
04-30-2002 5:21 pm
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watch out when playing at surbiton!
I totally agree with the comments above although it is hardly surprising that roycey is involved in something like this given his history in the game!!
What next?
Bugging the other teams changing room, vidoeing other sides training or just flying foreign players in to play in the playoffs, oh sorry he's doing that already!!!
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Morpheus
05-01-2002 11:37 am
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Secret Agent Garrard
Brett how do you feel about being embroidled into one of Royce's shenanigans?!
I am told that you are aspiring to be a coach! How will this episode look on your CV - 'Good, but will cheat and encourage his charges to cheat, to obtain results!' Not good eh?!?
My advice would be to stay clear of Royce for he will taint your reputation before you have a chance to buiild one.
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tut tut
05-02-2002 6:07 am
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casting stones / glass houses
totally agree with the sentiments above but let's not forget that the "outraged" Coppie was also the two faced back stabbing assasin posing as an assistant coach to the much maligned (and now World Cup Silver Medal winning) Barry Dancer. Perhaps Brett could take advice from both these dubious mentors in developing his espionage/coaching carreer????
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P.Nesshead
05-02-2002 1:02 pm
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what back stabbing?
tut tut, can you back up your comments and at least explain what you are on about as those are some strong words!!
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Hockey Coach
05-02-2002 4:08 pm
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Outrage hot air
Is it not a farce worth listening to. Our level of hockey is so outstanding in this country that we now spy on the opposition, never done before. Observe, evaluate, decide, all things any good coach will do, including Mr Copp and Mr Royce. If you gain by listening as well then in love and war so be it. Outrage, I think not, indignity that someone actually did what everyone would like to do is more apt, stop the false indignity and get on with the game. I feel confident that given the opportunity of getting one over the opposition most coaches will go as close to the mark as possible, the only crime unfortunately is getting caught. Cut the crap gents, get on with the game, you are both as guilty as each other, stop being spoilt little children and do something more positive for the game.
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grey fox
05-03-2002 11:11 am
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Let's hope Cannock watch their backs this weekend - Surbiton will cheat however they can to win. Maybe that's what sports about, but lets hope they dont win to discourage them from flying in foreigners in the future. They should really learn what real hockey's about and play their youngsters and give them some exposure
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quincy
05-03-2002 12:46 pm
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foreigners!
grey fox, i wouldn't worry i saw the game on sunday and the south african they flew in was dreadful.
if you want to see surbiton's quality youngsters then just go and watch teddington as that is the only place they can get exposure!!
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tut tut
05-03-2002 1:27 pm
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both as bad
I'd agree with hockey coach that there's nothing to separate the two of them. Both are as bad but for differnt reasons. Royce is a lunatic & bully with no sense of what sport is really about. Coppie was heavily implicated in the infamous "golf course revolt" prior to the Olympics.
Neither has a shred of integrity. Sadly this probably does reflect the pinnacle of our home grown coaching talent.... wonderr if there are any other "video operators" out there who could lend us a hand???
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Jock Braveheart
05-11-2002 5:56 pm
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Coaches and 1966
Seems like "Silbury-gate" breaking out allover in EHL? Not only is it the money but the coaches are at it too?? We've been there before up here - the (now less than mighty) MIM have flown in every nationality who's ever played some type of hand/wood/ball sport to stop them getting relegated ... money no object!! But now in england you've got into "spying in the showers" - thats something every perfrmance challenged hockey team should aspire too - 1988 and all that? There are many other home based coaches with mucho integrity in Eng, Wal, Sco et al - who the path could show. Feel the force GB - its multicultural errr and British, or South African, or Australian ... but it has integrity, n'est-ce pas?
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tom
02-03-2005 7:52 am
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mr.royce
Mr. Royce is one of the nicest men I have come to know. He is a great hockey coach and a great motivator. Most of the people's comments here are unjust and totally out of order.
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