JASON Lee, one of the most successful coaches in British hockey for more than a decade, has been appointed Reading HC’s head coach, writes Dave Wright.

Blues’ new performance squad manager Tim Hamilton said: “Jason brings with him huge knowledge and experience, and is a real signal of the intent we have as a club.”

As a player, Lee won 82 caps for England and 35 for Great Britain while playing his club hockey with Loughborough Students and East Grinstead. He appeared in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, but retired after the 1998 World Cup to take up coaching.

He began with the England men’s team in 2003 and a year later also took over the GB role. He guided them through three successive Olympics, whilst taking England to their first ever European title in 2009, moving them up from 11th to fourth in the world rankings.

Lee stood down after the 2012 Olympics in order to take up a similar role with the England women’s squad and helped them to reach the European Nations final, only to lose to Germany in a penalty shoot-out. They also moved up to third in the world rankings.

In all, the Londoner was the international head coach for 11 years until standing down in 2014.

Now Reading have enticed the 47-year-old into club hockey as they look to return to the days when they were one of the most successful sides in Europe.

“We are absolutely delighted to have him at Reading,” said Hamilton.

And club captain Rob Farrow added: “I am pleased to welcome Jason and, along with his coaching team, I’m looking forward to an exciting and successful season in 2017-18.”

The rest of the coaching team will be announced soon, and they could include one or both of Blues’ retired international players Dan Shingles and Rick Mantell.

Defender Liam Sanford, among Reading’s new signings, is in England’s 18-strong squad for the World League semi-final tournament at Lee Valley starting on June 15, but Blues skipper Tom Carson misses out through injury.

Reading trio Tommy Alexander, Tim Atkins and Lee Morton are all in Scotland’s squad for the World League semi-final in London starting next Wednesday.

Mike Irving is expected to continue as head coach to Reading Women’s first team despite their relegation from the Investec League Premier Division.

Goalkeeper Amy Gibson, who played for Reading last season, is in the Scotland squad for their World League semi-final in Brussels which runs from June 21 until July 2.

She joined the Sonning Lane club a year ago, but missed more than half the season with various injuries.

Gibson quickly returned to top form in the last few league games, but while she was unable to keep Reading in the top flight, she did enough to warrant a Scotland recall.