Team GB hockey star Simon Mantell pitches in at Shrewsbury School

Mantell, who represented GB in Rio, was on hand to officially open Shrewsbury School's new artificial pitches.

The now double Olympian spoke to a large crowd made up of aspiring hockey players from the school, as well as visiting pupils and coaches from other schools.

Mantell was keen to stress the important role school sport and these top-quality facilities have in developing future national stars.

"These sorts of pitches are where all the training goes in to create future Olympians," said Mantell. "Maybe some of the players here will be among them."

Headmaster Mark Turner looked at the benefits the pitches will bring to hockey at Shrewsbury School – especially significant with the school's recent change to full co-education.

"With a large increase in the numbers of girls at the school and a rise in their skill levels, we now have the first-class facilities to match our top-level coaching, which will allow those talents to develop," said Turner.

"This is also a wonderful facility that we look forward to sharing with the wider community."

Shrewsbury School's first XI hockey coach Emma Kelly has been thrilled with the new pitches, also seeing the benefits they bring for both the school and the community.

"Hockey at Shrewsbury is entering a very exciting time," she said. "This year sees the implementation of an 'Elite Development Squad', which allows players identified with potential to pursue their hockey to a higher level via a structured strength and conditioning programme and elite coaching sessions.

"We have also been working closely with the Shropshire Hockey Association and England Hockey to ensure that the hockey family benefits from this fantastic new facility. It has been wonderful to see so many students enjoying the new surface, not just those involved in teams but a number of students having a go at hockey for the first time."

And the school made an impressive start on the new pitches. They hosted 11 visiting teams in an under-14 girls' county tournament and were unbeaten over the day, securing wins against Shrewsbury High School, Moreton Hall, Meole Brace School and Ellesmere College to earn a place in the regional part of the competition.