ROPER Laura < Back  
Sport Hockey
CGA England   
Gender Women
Born 08 Mar 1988 in Sutton Coldfield, ENG
Height1.56 m
Human Interest
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team East Grinstead : England
Further Personal Information
Higher education Accounting, Finance - Loughborough University: England
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? She likes the team aspect of the sport.
General Interest
Most influential person in career Irish hockey player Paul Gleghorne. (Athlete, 03 Jul 2011)
Hero / Idol Northern Irish golfer Darren Clarke. (holcombehc.org.uk, 14 Sep 2013)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Mary Booth [club]; Mark Hager [national], AUS
Preferred position / style / stance / technique Defender
When and where did you begin this sport? She joined her local hockey club, Sutton Coldfield, at age 10 in Birmingham, England.
International Debut
Year 2008
Competing for England
Opponent Germany
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto "The moment may last a second, but the memory will stay until your last second." (englandhockey.co.uk, 30 Jun 2013)
Further Personal Information
Languages English
General Interest
Nicknames Unsy (holcombehc.org.uk, 14 Sep 2013; independent.co.uk, 01 Nov 2019)
Ambitions To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (inews.co.uk, 03 Nov 2019)
Awards and honours She was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2017 New Year's Honours list. (englandhockey.co.uk, 30 Dec 2016)
Other information SENIOR PLAYER
Speaking in 2019, she said she had no plans to retire in the near future, and that as one of the most experienced players in the Great Britain squad she feels she has a responsibility to set an example. "The hunger is still there. Physically, I feel like I'm in the best shape I've been in for a while. The body's holding up pretty well which, after all these years, is pretty good going. I've always prided myself on setting the standard. Now, it's changed a bit because you realise there is more on you to do so at all times as a senior member." (independent.co.uk, 01 Nov 2019)
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete