Tributes to hockey Olympian Imran Sherwani recall a family man | UK News

The relatives of Olympic hockey player Imran Sherwani have remembered him as a “devoted family man” following his death aged 63.

Sherwani, from Stoke-on-Trent, led Great Britain to hockey gold at the 1988 Olympics.

The father-of-three, “whose warmth, humour, and kindness touched everyone who knew him”, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019.

“Imran will be profoundly missed, but his legacy will remain with us always,” said his family in a statement issued by England Hockey. There have been further tributes from the hockey world since his death was announced on Friday.

Leek Hockey Club, where Sherwani was a life member, described him as one of the club’s greatest players and arguably their most influential.

Andy Spragg, club chairman, said the player was “one of the most friendly, funny, humble (people) – just inspirational”.

Saturday’s games were beginning with a minute’s silence, followed by another period of silent reflection before the men’s national league match on Sunday, said Mr Spragg, who added the club would also hold a celebration of the player’s life.

Mr Spragg said the Olympian would want to be remembered as just a “friendly bloke – I don’t think he’d got any sort of aspirations of being the hero, he was just Imran”.

His family made a similar point in their statement, which said: “While many knew him for his sporting achievements, to us he was a devoted family man”.

Sherwani represented GB and England a combined 94 times, and worked as director of hockey at a school in Staffordshire.

He came from a sporting family – his father played hockey for Pakistan and his great uncles played for Stoke City and Port Vale.

His family had worked to raise awareness of young onset dementia since his diagnosis, and charity Alzheimer’s Research UK said someone of his standing speaking so openly had had a big impact.

Angela Smith from Stoke-on-Trent, a former world squash champion, said her friend was very good at many sports.

“He was a very talented cricketer as well.. he played tennis, he played squash, he ran.”

Many people knew him from running a newsagents in the city, she said, describing him as “just a lovely guy”.

In comments on Radio Stoke’s social media pages, the player has been called a “local legend”, with one person recalling lining up outside the family shop when he returned with his Olympic medal.