We are delighted that Tommy has joined our BRIT Ambassador family.
Tommy has represented Scotland since 2017. He has amassed 49 caps as Goalkeeper and played in 13 competitions including the Hockey World League, Commonwealth Games, Hockey Series Open, Euro Hockey Championships and the 5 Nations. In 2020, Tommy was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the EuroHockey Indoor Championship II in Santander, Spain.
“In July 2020, Dr John Mitchell, Principal Medical Officer, Mental Health Directorate, Scottish Government, published A Think Piece on Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Scotland. Dr Mitchell stated that there is an estimated 8% current worsening of the incidence of mental health disorders in Scotland and after a steady decline in suicides, that these had risen in the last year with the biggest rise in under 25s.
The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) Vision to support young adult and student mental health throughout the UK resonates with me both personally and professionally. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on young adults and students being unable to socialise, play many team sports or take part in activities and training. Despite restrictions starting to be lifted, the mental health and wellbeing of so many young adults and students has been severely affected and we need to all we can to support and improve their health and fitness to avoid long-term effects.
BRIT have worked hard to ensure that every Higher Education and Further Education student in Scotland has the opportunity to take part in their annual BRIT Challenge. It is great to see that BRIT have formed relationships with Universities Scotland (through Universities UK), Colleges Scotland, sportscotland, Scottish Student Sport and are continuing to strengthen relationships with Scottish universities and colleges. I am also delighted to see that all funds raised through the BRIT 2021 Challenge will be shared equally between The Nightline Association, PAPYRUS - -Prevention of Young Suicide, Student Minds, The Charlie Waller Trust and BRIT; all of whom are supporting young adults and students in Scotland.
I am honoured to be joining the BRIT Ambassador family and will do my utmost to encourage fellow Scottish athletes, Olympians, Paralympians and sports personalities to join me as BRIT Ambassadors and champion the BRIT Challenge throughout Scotland. I would be thrilled supportstudents and staff at Glasgow Kelvin College, Glasgow Clyde College and City of Glasgow College, should they enter teams in the BRIT 2021 Challenge.”
Between 2013 and 2014, Tommy played for the Indian Gymkhana Club and at the same time, was Goalkeeper Coach at Kingston Grammar School.
In 2014, Tommy moved to Reading Hockey Club ,where he played for four years. During this time, he worked at The Hockey Centre in Woking, Surrey.
Tommy has represented Scotland since 2017. That year, he played in the Hockey World League, Hero Hockey World League and EuroHockey Championship II.
In 2018, he played in the 5 Nations Invitational Tournament in Spain, the Commonwealth Games in Australia, the Hockey Series Open in Portugal and Test Matches against the USA.
Tommy played in the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals Le Touquet-Paris Plage in France, the Belfius EuroHockey Championship in Belgium and in Test Matches against Australia, Spain and Ireland.
In 2020, Tommy was awarded Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the EuroHockey Indoor Championship III in Spain.
He has amassed 45 Outdoor Caps and 4 Indoor caps for Scotland and played in 13 competitions so far.
Since 2018, Tommy has played for Uhienhorster Hockey Club in Hamburg, Germany.
To read more about Hockey in Scotland, please visit the Scottish Hockey website.
To follow Tommy’s journey, he is on Twitter @tommyialexander and on Instagram