Petworth student celebrates German hockey call-up

Grambusch, who has played regularly for leading English club East Grinstead while at the Petworth college, played for Germany against Pakistan, England and The Netherlands in the Four Nations tournament in Holland, where he was named most promising young player.

He played well against Pakistan and was credited with setting up a goal against The Netherlands.

Despite Germany being Olympic champions, they were beaten into third place 3-2 by England, current European champions, with The Netherlands taking top slot.

The tournament meant Grambusch missed Seaford’s speech day and prizegiving when he was awarded the Proops Cup for outstanding achievement.

Seaford College headmaster Toby Mullins said: “Mats is an outstanding player, with not only talent but an agility and ambition which makes him a delight to watch in action.”

The 18-year-old joined Seaford in 2009 on a two-year subsidised hockey scholarship and immediately began making headlines.

Only a month after joining the college, he played for the East Grinstead indoor first XI in the English Hockey Premier League and helped them win the Premier League. While in the lower sixth, he played for the German under-21s in a European tournament.

Earlier this year, he was instrumental in helping East Grinstead reach the finals of the Super Sixes contest at Wembley Arena.

The Grambusch family talent was spotted when Mats’ elder sister Pia came to play on Seaford’s pitches during an Exsportise summer camp in 2005.

Mr Mullins said: “Both Mats and his sister Pia demonstrated a remarkable talent for hockey at a very young age. We have some of the best hockey facilities in the country and, working alongside East Grinstead, we have been able to offer them both assisted scholarships which allowed them to develop their talent.”

Pia is in the German senior squad and could be the first Old Seafordian to participate in the Olympics.