Jacob Elliott is one of the main men at Cirencester Hockey Club.

The 27-year-old is captain of the men’s flagship team, he’s their head coach and he’s also the head of junior coaching.

Hockey is a very big part of his life – he reckons he devotes some 20-plus hours a week to the sport – and he has a huge enthusiasm for the game.

Cirencester’s 1^st XI play in Division 2 East of the West of England Hockey League – they travel to Cheltenham 2nds for their league opener on Saturday – and the coming campaign will be the fifth season in a row that Elliott has been skipper.

He’s been head coach for the same length of period, so clearly he is someone who likes to put his hand up and be counted.

This is actually his second spell as captain – he first led the team when he was 19 – and the one-time Deer Park School pupil said: “I’m happy to take on the extra responsibility.

“A club doesn’t run without volunteers, an awful lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make a successful club, I like being a leader.”

And he likes everything about Cirencester Hockey Club, a club he joined at the age of 13.

He has a good relationship with chairman Paul Anstee, who was his coach when he was captain first time around.

Elliott, who lives in Cheltenham, gave up the role back then to go travelling for a couple of years, a period which actually saw him play a lot of hockey.

“I played for North Shore United in New Zealand,” he said. “I coached them as well, they were a good club, they looked after me.”

And it’s an experience that Elliott, who is studying physiotherapy at the University of Gloucestershire, looks back on with obvious fondness.

“The style of play in New Zealand is a bit different from over here,” he said.

“I’d say in this country it’s more physical, a bit more agricultural.

“The game is a bit faster in New Zealand, they are much more focused on fitness.

“Their pitches are really nice and that dictates the way you can play. You can develop your skills.

“Some of the pitches that we play on here aren’t as good, although we’re really lucky in Cirencester.”

Cirencester play their home games at Deer Park School and Elliott’s is a familiar voice when the men’s 1^st XI are at home.

“I don’t shut up when I’m on the pitch,” he laughed. “I’m a centre-back and I can see the game unfolding, I can see the whole pitch.

“I’m not the most speedy but I like to think I’m a good reader of the game.”

So how does Elliott think his team will fare this season?

“I think I’ll be happy with a top-four finish,” he said. “It’s a good, hard competition. I’ve worked with great vice-captains over the years and this season I’m looking forward to working with Hugo Smellie.

“Two seasons ago when the league was restructured we finished second, missing out on the title by a point.

“Then we lost nine players, so we had a bit of a re-set. We finished third last season but we’ve lost four players this summer.”

On the positive side that means more chances for others and Elliott, who also coaches Gloucestershire’s under-13 and under-14 boys’ teams, obviously welcomes new players with open arms.

The club have five senior men’s teams and Elliott said: “I like bringing youngsters through. Our club captain Graham Vinnicombe does a really good job introducing youngsters into men’s hockey.”

It’s a system that worked well for Elliott, of course, and he’s confident that it’s one that will remain in place for many years to come.

“There is a good core of people at the club,” he said. “We do really well as a hockey club, we’re a hidden gem in Cirencester.

“We run nine adult teams, I can’t think there’s another sports club in Cirencester with nine adult teams.”