Inside the Circle with Matthew Ramshaw: England Hockey, Nike and Changing the Game on Social Media

For Matthew Ramshaw, hockey has almost always been part of life.

From hitting a tennis ball around the house with a spatula as a child to representing England, Matthew's journey has taken him through junior international hockey, Loughborough University, the senior international programme and a six-month spell playing in Australia.

But his route hasn't simply been one continuous rise.

He earned his England debut, was later dropped from the senior programme, moved to the other side of the world, rediscovered his enjoyment of the game and eventually fought his way back.

At the same time, he began documenting what elite hockey really looks like.

Training.

Recovery.

Setbacks.

Equipment.

Travel.

And the parts of being an international athlete supporters don't normally get to see.

In this edition of Inside the Circle, Matthew joins Total-Hockey to talk about his England journey, playing abroad, his Nike equipment, why 100% carbon isn't always the answer, the realities of elite sport and why hockey players need to become more confident about telling their own stories.

Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Matthew Ramshaw below, or keep reading for the biggest stories, insights and lessons from his journey through England hockey, playing in Australia and building a voice for the sport online.

Growing Up With Hockey Everywhere

Matthew didn't exactly have to search very far to discover hockey.

Both of his parents played.

His dad even founded his own hockey club.

That meant Matthew was surrounded by the sport from almost the moment he could walk.

Before he was properly old enough for junior hockey, he was already finding ways to hit something around.

Sometimes that meant a hockey stick.

Sometimes apparently a spatula and tennis ball in the kitchen.

By five or six, he was regularly going along to his dad's training sessions.

By seven or eight, he was already playing junior hockey with older players.

Any Excuse to Get on the Pitch

Matthew remembers constantly wanting more hockey.

If junior training started at six, he wanted to arrive at half four.

Straight from school.

Homework permitting.

Or occasionally homework not permitting.

He'd join warm-ups he wasn't actually playing in.

Hit balls on the side.

Spend as much time around senior hockey as possible.

That enjoyment hasn't really disappeared.

Even now, he'll arrive early to GB sessions with teammates to do extra shooting.

The environment has become professional.

The motivation remains remarkably similar.

Get on the pitch and play.

Progressing Through the England Pathway

Matthew entered the England system at under-16 level.

Because of his age, he regularly found himself playing up.

England U16s led into U18s.

Then came the transition to the U21 environment.

And this was where he noticed one of the biggest jumps in hockey.

Why U18 to U21 Is Such a Big Step

Matthew believes the jump from under-18 hockey to under-21 is arguably bigger than the transition from U21 into the seniors.

The reason is physicality.

At under-18 level, you're still playing junior hockey.

At U21 level, you're increasingly playing against fully developed adults.

The game becomes more physical.

Faster.

More demanding.

Then the step into senior international hockey changes the challenge again.

There, decision-making speed becomes particularly important.

The players aren't simply stronger.

They see the game faster too.

A Successful Junior International Career

Matthew's junior career included major tournament success.

He was part of teams that won the Sultan of Johor Cup in both 2018 and 2019, along with a European silver medal.

Those experiences gave him exposure to international hockey before the senior call eventually arrived.

In 2022, shortly after university, he made his England debut against France.

A childhood ambition had become reality.

Then came the harder part.

Staying there.

Getting Dropped From the Senior Programme

Matthew spent around a year and a half inside the senior setup.

Then he was cut.

He doesn't try to dress the situation up.

At the time, he simply wasn't meeting the required standard.

That's how elite sport works.

One day you're inside the programme living the dream.

The next, you aren't.

For some athletes, that kind of setback can destroy confidence.

Matthew used it differently.

Why Matthew Likes Difficult Challenges

Matthew describes himself as someone who actually performs better when there is something difficult to chase.

Comfort doesn't particularly suit him.

Pressure does.

Goals do.

Being dropped gave him a very obvious one.

Get back.

Rather than treating the decision as proof his international career was finished, he looked at what needed to change.

Then he went away and worked on it.

Australia Became the Reset

Part of that process involved getting away from England.

Matthew moved to Melbourne for around six months to play hockey.

The timing was ideal.

He wasn't inside the GB programme.

The opportunity was available.

And he didn't know whether he'd ever have another chance to live and play on the other side of the world.

So he went.

Rediscovering the Enjoyment of Hockey

Australia gave Matthew distance from selection and the pressure surrounding the senior programme.

New teammates.

A new city.

A different hockey culture.

Different coaches.

And nobody constantly asking what was happening with England.

That separation helped him get back to simply enjoying playing.

And sometimes that can be exactly what a player needs.

Australian Hockey: Organised Chaos

Matthew's description of Australian hockey is simple:

Organised chaos.

Compared with the more structured build-up he was accustomed to in Europe, Australian hockey felt incredibly direct.

Win the ball.

Attack.

Get from one circle to the other as quickly as possible.

Then do it again.

There was less time spent patiently building through midfield.

Why Australian Hockey Was Perfect for a Forward

For an attacking player, there were obvious benefits.

More transitions.

More space.

More chances.

More opportunities to run.

The downside?

It was exhausting.

Matthew remembers finishing matches completely cooked because of the sheer amount of end-to-end movement.

But the style forced him to see hockey differently.

Playing Abroad Gives You More Answers

That's one of the biggest lessons Matthew took from Australia.

A different hockey culture doesn't have to be completely right or completely wrong.

You take pieces from it.

Some ideas immediately make sense.

Others don't suit you at all.

But every different environment expands the number of solutions you understand.

Matthew also found himself in situations where he could get on the ball more and experiment with parts of his game that were harder to develop in the intensity of the English Premier Division.

Go Abroad If You Get the Chance

His advice to players considering a similar move is pretty straightforward:

Go.

Sydney.

Perth.

Melbourne.

Wherever the opportunity appears.

New teammates and new surroundings force you outside your comfort zone.

And the experiences away from the pitch can be just as valuable as the hockey itself.

Returning to England and the Senior Programme

Australia wasn't an escape from international ambition.

Matthew still wanted back in.

After returning, he retrialled for the programme.

And this time, he earned his place again.

That gives his international journey an important second chapter.

Making a senior squad once proves you're good enough to reach that level.

Getting dropped and earning another opportunity proves something different.

You can respond.

Why Hard Truths Matter

Matthew credits several coaches and family members with helping him through different stages of his career.

One thing he particularly values is honesty.

He doesn't want a coach to avoid a difficult conversation.

If he's doing something wrong, tell him.

If his attitude needs changing, say it.

If the standard isn't high enough, explain why.

For Matthew, good coach-player relationships require enough trust for those conversations to happen.

Coaching Isn't Always Comfortable

A coach's job isn't simply to make the player feel good.

Sometimes the useful feedback is exactly what you don't want to hear.

Matthew believes the relationship works when both sides understand the intention.

The coach wants the player to improve.

The player wants to improve.

Once that trust exists, brutal honesty becomes much easier to accept.

Loughborough Was Always the Plan

When it came to university, Matthew didn't spend much time considering alternatives.

He wanted Loughborough.

In fact, most of his university choices were simply different courses at Loughborough.

He had already experienced the hockey environment there while still at school.

It was exactly where he wanted to be.

Living Like a Professional Athlete at University

Loughborough gave Matthew access to almost everything associated with high-performance sport.

Strength and conditioning.

Nutrition.

Psychology.

High-level coaching.

Elite facilities.

And athletes from countless other sports.

For somebody whose main ambition was hockey, it created an environment where the degree could fit around serious training rather than the other way around.

Nobody Is Going to Chase You

University also delivered another lesson.

Responsibility.

At school, somebody normally reminds you what needs doing.

At university?

It's up to you.

Go to the gym.

Or don't.

Attend the lecture.

Or fall behind.

Do the extra work.

Or let somebody else improve faster.

Being surrounded by athletes from individual sports reinforced that idea even more.

Some were getting up at four in the morning to train.

There are always more levels.

What Hockey Stick Does Matthew Ramshaw Use?

Matthew recently moved to Nike Hockey.

He now uses Nike equipment across his setup, with the Nike Laser Select as his stick of choice.

And importantly, it isn't the highest-carbon stick in the range.

That's deliberate.

Why Matthew Uses the Nike Laser Select

Matthew's Laser Select contains around 85% carbon.

As a forward, he still wants enough stiffness and power to finish chances.

But he also values touch.

Control.

Receiving.

Knowing where the ball is on the stick without constantly looking down.

For Matthew, moving to maximum carbon would sacrifice too much of that feel.

Do International Players Really Use 100% Carbon?

This is one of the strongest equipment discussions in the interview.

There is a widespread assumption that the best players automatically use 100% carbon hockey sticks.

Matthew says that simply isn't true.

Plenty of elite players use lower-carbon constructions.

Why?

Because 100% carbon can feel extremely stiff.

Yes, you may gain some power.

But if your first touch becomes less reliable, that extra power isn't necessarily helping.

Control Before Maximum Power

Matthew makes the point perfectly.

There's little benefit in hitting the ball slightly harder if you can't control it properly first.

Aerial receptions.

Fast passes.

First touch under pressure.

All of those can become more difficult if the stick feels too unforgiving.

For most modern players, the ball isn't being traditionally hit every time they receive it anyway.

Passing and control often matter much more.

Younger Players Don't Need 100% Carbon

Matthew is particularly clear when it comes to junior players.

A 10, 12 or 14-year-old doesn't automatically need the stiffest and most expensive stick available.

In many cases, they may not yet have the strength required to take advantage of that stiffness anyway.

A slightly softer stick can make controlling the ball easier while technique is still developing.

That's far more useful than owning a premium specification you can't actually benefit from.

Stick Choice Depends on Climate Too

There is another interesting detail.

Temperature affects the feel of hockey sticks.

In hotter countries such as India or Malaysia, equipment can feel softer.

Some elite players may therefore move towards higher-carbon models in those conditions.

In a colder European climate?

The same stick can feel considerably harsher.

Again, there isn't one perfect carbon percentage for every player and every condition.

Matthew's Stick Setup

Matthew is considerably more particular about his specifications than some of the other players we've spoken to.

He uses a 37.5-inch stick weighing around the low-520g range, with a balance point around 400mm.

He also prefers an extra-low bow.

As a forward, he wants the stick to feel quick through his hands rather than heavily weighted towards the head.

Why Head-Light Works for Matthew

A heavy head can help some players generate momentum.

Matthew isn't particularly interested.

He wants speed.

Quick hands.

Easy manipulation.

Aerials.

Attacking movement.

As he puts it, he doesn't want to feel like he's carrying a sledgehammer around the pitch.

Keeping the Grip Simple and Repeatable

His grip setup involves zinc-oxide tape, a shammy-style grip and some additional tape at the top.

The very top of the handle is made slightly thicker.

That gives his hand something to pull against and helps prevent the feeling that the stick might slip out.

The biggest priority is consistency.

Every stick should feel the same.

Why Routine Matters

Matthew dislikes small changes in equipment.

If a piece of tape peels away, he notices.

If the grip feels different, it bothers him.

So the setup needs to be simple enough that he can recreate it every time.

At elite level, the last thing you want to be thinking about during a match is whether one stick feels slightly different from the previous one.

Nike Hockey Shoes

Matthew is equally enthusiastic about Nike's hockey footwear.

Grip matters enormously for his style.

As a fast attacking player who changes direction aggressively, he needs the shoe to hold the surface.

Slipping destroys confidence.

Comfort Without Losing Responsiveness

He also likes the balance between cushioning and responsiveness.

A hockey shoe needs enough protection and comfort to handle constant training.

But if the front of the shoe is too soft, pushing away from the turf can feel sluggish.

Matthew believes Nike has found a good balance between the two.

Enough cushioning through the heel.

Enough firmness through the front for acceleration.

Why Player Feedback Matters

One reason Matthew enjoys working with Nike is that the relationship goes beyond simply receiving equipment.

The brand actively asks for feedback.

What works?

What doesn't?

What should change?

What could improve?

For somebody using the products every day, that conversation matters.

Hockey Equipment Needs More Innovation

Matthew believes hockey equipment as a whole has sometimes moved too slowly.

Different graphics appear.

New names appear.

Bow shapes change.

But truly significant innovation can be difficult to find.

Compare that with footwear, cycling, running or other major sports where companies are constantly trying new materials and technologies.

He wants hockey to keep moving too.

From Athlete to Brand Partner

Matthew's Nike relationship also connects with another important part of his career:

social media.

When discussing sponsorship opportunities, he began thinking more seriously about the value an athlete can create beyond what happens on the pitch.

Performance matters.

But audience matters too.

Storytelling matters.

Helping grow the sport matters.

Understanding Your Value as an Athlete

Matthew believes athletes should understand what they bring to a partnership.

That can be uncomfortable.

Negotiating on your own behalf isn't easy.

You may worry that pushing back could make an opportunity disappear.

Working with athlete management helped Matthew separate that negotiation from his hockey and focus on the areas he could control.

Eventually, the Nike deal followed.

Elite Hockey Isn't the Lifestyle People Imagine

Matthew also wants people to understand what international hockey really looks like.

Yes, you get to play the sport you love.

That is an enormous privilege.

But there are plenty of things happening behind the scenes.

Training doesn't end when you walk off the pitch.

Recovery still needs to happen.

Food matters.

Sleep matters.

Gym work matters.

Video matters.

The Mental Side Is Tiring Too

The physical workload is obvious.

The mental workload can be less visible.

International players spend sessions making constant decisions.

Tactical information has to be processed.

Selections create pressure.

Matches create pressure.

Then recovery begins and the process starts again.

Mental fatigue becomes real.

The Social Sacrifices of Elite Sport

There are ordinary-life sacrifices too.

Birthdays.

Nights out.

Seeing friends.

A Friday evening before a match might mean eating dinner early and being in bed by nine or ten.

And hockey doesn't provide the financial rewards people associate with top-level football.

You make those sacrifices because you want to play.

Why Matthew Started Showing the Real Side Online

This is where social media became important.

Matthew had always been interested in how media captures attention.

Then he looked at hockey content and felt the sport could be doing much better.

His philosophy was straightforward:

You can't complain about something if you're not willing to try changing it.

So he bought a camera.

Got a chest mount.

And started filming.

Australia Gave Him the Confidence to Post

Initially, putting himself online wasn't comfortable.

The Australian environment helped.

People were supportive.

Interested.

Encouraging.

Instead of immediately making fun of somebody for trying something different, teammates wanted to know how it worked.

That made experimenting easier.

One of Matthew's early videos quickly reached around 100,000 views.

Suddenly there was proof that people wanted this content.

Getting Over the Fear of Judgment

Matthew believes fear of what other people think is one of the biggest things preventing athletes from posting online.

He understands that fear.

When he first started, he would post a video and then delete the Instagram app because he was too nervous to see the response.

Then he'd download it again the following day.

After a few posts, that changed.

Eventually you realise the judgement isn't particularly important.

Make the Content Younger You Needed

Matthew's approach now is to think about himself as a younger player.

What would 12-year-old Matthew have wanted to see?

What about 15-year-old Matthew?

How does an international player train?

What does a day in the life look like?

What happens after a player gets dropped?

What stick do they actually use?

What does recovery look like?

Those are the stories he wants to show.

Why Hockey Needs More Player Personalities

Hockey has passionate fans.

But Matthew believes the sport doesn't have enough casual followers.

One way to change that is by giving supporters people to connect with.

A name on a team sheet is less interesting than a personality.

Social media gives players an opportunity to show who they are away from the match.

That can make fans more invested when they eventually watch them play.

Different Platforms Need Different Content

Matthew has also learned that Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are completely different.

A polished Instagram video might perform poorly.

The same clip can explode on TikTok.

A video that takes two hours to edit might flop.

Something made in 30 seconds can reach hundreds of thousands of people.

There isn't always an obvious formula.

Why YouTube Appeals to Matthew

Longer-form YouTube content is becoming particularly interesting to him.

Instagram demands speed.

Hook the viewer.

Keep everything short.

Remove every unnecessary second.

YouTube creates more room to tell a story.

Show personality.

Explain what happened.

Let moments breathe.

For Matthew, that can be more enjoyable creatively.

Social Media Can Help Grow Hockey

The wider goal isn't simply follower numbers.

It's visibility for the sport.

Hockey players do interesting things.

They travel the world.

Train like professional athletes.

Experience brutal selections.

Use specialised equipment.

Play in completely different cultures.

But if nobody shows those things, potential fans never see them.

Completing an Ironman

Matthew's interest in challenges also extends well beyond hockey.

While outside the national programme, he completed an Ironman.

Why?

Because being comfortable doesn't particularly interest him.

He wanted a goal.

Something difficult.

Something that forced him to learn new skills and test his body in another way.

Why Goals Outside Hockey Matter

Most of Matthew's life has revolved around hockey.

The Ironman gave him something else to chase.

He'd like to continue taking on similar challenges after hockey too, including potentially ultramarathons.

There is an important message behind that.

You can care enormously about hockey without every goal in life having to involve a stick.

Taking a Break Can Make You Love Hockey More

Matthew also believes in genuine breaks from the game.

When you're younger, it's easy to play constantly.

As responsibilities increase, mental recovery becomes more important.

Sometimes a week or two away gives you something valuable:

The chance to miss hockey.

When you return wanting to pick the stick up again, the break has done its job.

Life Inside the GB Training Programme

A typical GB week combines technical, tactical and physical work.

Monday can involve a pitch session followed by gym.

Tuesday often provides a more competitive, game-based session.

Wednesday brings another hockey session, video work and gym.

Then international players return to their clubs for Thursday training ahead of the weekend.

Club Hockey Provides a Different Environment

Even after a physically demanding GB week, Matthew still enjoys going back into club training.

The people change.

The environment changes.

You're back with friends.

That difference can provide energy even when the body is tired.

Club and international hockey are demanding in different ways.

Why Injury Prevention Matters

Strength and conditioning isn't simply about getting stronger or faster.

A major part of the work involves staying available.

Groins.

Hamstrings.

Calves.

Quads.

Hockey repeatedly puts players into unusual positions.

If physical preparation can reduce preventable soft-tissue injuries, that means more time on the pitch.

Some injuries — like getting smashed on the foot — are harder to control.

Pro League: Great for Players, Harder for Fans?

Matthew also gives an interesting perspective on the FIH Pro League.

From a player-development point of view, he sees real value.

High-quality internationals appear throughout the year.

Players are constantly exposed to elite opposition.

There is always another block to prepare for.

But from a spectator's perspective, he understands why the competition can be harder to follow.

What Is Every Pro League Match Building Towards?

That is the challenge.

Traditional tournaments have an obvious story.

Group stage.

Semi-final.

Final.

Champion.

The Pro League is spread across different countries and different parts of the year.

For a hardcore hockey fan, that's an opportunity to see teams such as Belgium and Australia without leaving Britain.

For a casual fan, understanding exactly what the competition means may be harder.

Hockey Needs More Casual Fans

Matthew makes an interesting observation.

Hockey has plenty of die-hard supporters.

What it needs more of is the casual audience.

People who might go to a match occasionally.

Follow players online.

Watch highlights.

Then gradually become more interested.

That connection between elite competition and social-media storytelling could become increasingly important.

The Penalty-Corner Safety Problem

One rule Matthew feels particularly strongly about is the limited preparation time for penalty corners.

Defenders are encouraged to wear increasingly comprehensive protective equipment.

Yet they're also given a strict period to get ready.

For a forward who may need to sprint the length of the pitch before putting that equipment on, the available preparation time can disappear quickly.

Safety Shouldn't Be Rushed

Matthew sees the contradiction.

Players are being told to protect themselves.

Then they're being hurried while trying to put the protection on.

As a number-one runner himself, he knows exactly what it feels like to charge towards a high-speed drag flick.

He'd like defenders to be given enough time to prepare safely, with penalties reserved for teams genuinely wasting time.

Are Penalty Corners Too Powerful?

Matthew would also consider changing the value of penalty corners within hockey.

His argument is simple.

A relatively minor infringement near the edge of the circle can suddenly create a significant scoring opportunity.

And an elite drag flicker can become so influential that they can almost decide a tournament.

Could Hockey Reward Open-Play Goals More?

Matthew points towards ideas used in Hockey One, where open-play scoring can carry additional reward.

It encourages teams to attack.

Creates more variety.

And potentially reduces how much hockey revolves around winning penalty corners.

He isn't suggesting corners should disappear.

But he does question whether they're currently too valuable relative to how they're won.

What Can Hockey Players Learn From Matthew Ramshaw?

Matthew's story contains plenty of useful lessons.

First, getting dropped doesn't mean you're finished.

He earned his England opportunity, lost it, went away, improved and came back.

Second, play abroad if the opportunity appears.

Australia gave him a new style of hockey, new ideas and space to rediscover why he enjoyed playing.

Third, don't assume 100% carbon means better.

Matthew uses an 85% carbon Nike Laser Select because control and touch matter more to him than chasing maximum stiffness.

Fourth, find coaches who will tell you the truth.

Improvement isn't always comfortable.

And fifth, don't be afraid to show people who you are.

Matthew started creating hockey content because he didn't think enough good content existed.

At first, he was so nervous about posting that he deleted Instagram immediately afterwards.

Now, that content is helping show thousands of young players what elite hockey really looks like.

Maybe that's the biggest message from the interview.

If you think something in the sport could be better, you have two choices.

Complain about it.

Or try to change it.

Matthew chose the second.

Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Matthew Ramshaw to hear more about England hockey, playing in Australia, Nike equipment, carbon percentages, elite training, social media and his journey back into the senior programme.