David Welch Management have been engaged by the England Hockey Board (EHB) on behalf of Great Britain Hockey to enhance the profile of hockey in all branches of the media. 

The deal will see David Welch Management working with the British hockey squads in the build up to the 2012 London Olympics.

The partnership represents a highly innovative role for Welch, who led the paper’s award-winning coverage of the Olympics from Barcelona 1992 to Athens 2004, officials claimed. 

David Welch Management will work with the EHB and Great Britain Hockey to uncover stories and features, raise the profile of individuals within the sport and spread the message of hockey’s continuing revival across the entire media spectrum. 

With England hockey’s men being crowned European champions in 2009 and semi-finalists at the World Cup in New Delhi last month, Scotland and Wales’ women soon to compete at World Cup qualifying tournaments and Britain’s men hosting a Four Nations tournament in Nottingham this July, the sport is entering a new phase of achievement and ambition.

In consultation with the EHB and Great Britain Hockey's in-house media team, David Welch Management journalists working on the project will include, notably, Sue Mott, the award-winning feature writer, interviewer and columnist, who has covered many Olympics since Los Angeles 1984 and written recent books with British Olympians, such as Sir Steve Redgrave and Andy Murray.

Mark Armitage, the EHB’s commercial and membership director, said: “I am delighted that we have selected David and Sue to work with us on this very important phase of developing the profile and awareness of hockey in this country. 

"These two bring enormous skill and experience and we look forward to working with them to bring hockey back into the consciousness of the general public as a fast, exciting and dynamic game in which we are starting to compete at the very highest level."

Welch already represents Olympians such as Lucinda Green and Lisa Dobriskey, the reigning Commonwealth 1500 metres champion and world silver medalist, and will be working with a selected number of other sports on their Olympic aspirations.

Welch said: "The Olympics have always been very special to me, and their coming to London represents an opportunity for everyone in sport to enjoy an experience which will, perhaps, never come their way again.

"It is an honour to be associated with genuine medal contenders such as the Great Britain hockey team."