Fareham’s ex-Olympic star Niall Stott: I thought a broken leg would end my hockey career

Fareham’s prospects for the new Conference West campaign have received a major boost with the return of former Great Britain Olympian midfielder Niall Stott.
Niall Stott is on the way back from a broken leg he thought was going to end his hockey career. Picture Ian HargreavesNiall Stott is on the way back from a broken leg he thought was going to end his hockey career. Picture Ian Hargreaves
Niall Stott is on the way back from a broken leg he thought was going to end his hockey career. Picture Ian Hargreaves

The club lift the curtain on their competitive league season in south Wales at Cardiff University this Sunday.

It will be 12 months ago to the day that Stott suffered a double break of his ankle and leg at

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Teddington – a serious injury that was to have a profound effect on Fareham’s 2019/20 season, culminating in relegation from the National South division.

The 39-year old was a member of the GB squad in the 2004 Athens Olympics and played for East Grinstead and Havant before joining Fareham three seasons ago.

Stott admits he thought the injury was a career-ending one.

‘In all honesty, I didn’t think I would ever be back playing again. It’s the longest I have been out of hockey in my whole career. I’ve made quite a remarkable recovery. Now it’s good to be back playing again,’ he reflected.

‘I spent 11 weeks in a full cast and another six weeks in a moon boot. After that I was then on crutches with very light weight bearing through my foot and building the weight through my leg as time progressed.

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‘I was allowed to start light training mid-July and build it up slowly and gradually. I

am still not back to full training yet and that will be a few months away yet.’

Having been sidelined for almost a whole year, Stott acknowledges it will take time before he can play a full part for Fareham.

‘I am nowhere near fully fit and that will take a lot longer. I am still doing rehab and prehab to get my leg as strong as possible and try to get to where I was before, but that is a long way off,’ he said.

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‘I am just glad that I can be back on the pitch again in some capacity as that was looking unlikely at points during my injury/recovery.

‘I will be recovering for a long time and the journey is long, hard and slow.’

Amid the disappointment of relegation from National South came the green shoots of numerous talented youngsters being given valuable game time in readiness for this season.

Fareham were national finalists in England Hockey’s Under-18 Cup two seasons ago and it’s the bulk of that side that will play in Conference West this term.

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Stott is looking forward to playing his part, albeit in short spells on the pitch.

‘I see my role in the squad as one of experience. I will be trying to help as much as I possibly can by using my experience and knowledge in both tactical and technical aspects of the game.

‘We have a very young squad with some experienced guys in there with a slightly older head on their shoulders.

‘I really hope that we can play (a full season) and get back to enjoying the sport we love.

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‘We have the making of a very good squad and we are looking to develop the players and

club style of play, with a new system introduced by our new coach George Harris, which we are all getting used to.

‘It is always difficult to predict how well you are going to do as there is so many variables that can happen.’

The former Scottish international has expressed his thanks to Fareham for their support during his long injury period.

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‘I owe massive thanks to Nick Knight and his staff in the clinic as I truly don’t think I would be

playing hockey again if it wasn’t for them,’ Stott said.

‘They helped me through the most difficult parts of my journey back to hockey.

‘They are so knowledgeable and welcoming and would do anything to get their clients to where they were before, or even better.’

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