WAPPING Hockey Club chairman Stuart Burnside was not surprised with how coach Maddie Hinch performed in the Olympic final as Great Britain beat the Netherlands in a shoot-out for the gold medal.

The club, which was formed in 1988 on the back of Britain’s golden success at the Seoul Games, saw members watch the final together in their clubhouse and have had a record amount of people joining.

Burnside became chairman back in 2013 and the club, who play games at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, have gone from having 180 members on the back on London 2012 to 360 members today.

“It was incredible watching them, I am actually just back from Heathrow and I have now touched several gold medals. It has been a good morning,” said Burnside on Tuesday after Team GB arrived home from Rio.

“We held an event so everyone could watch it together; and it was a tremendous result for our sport.

“It is a small world in our sport so we know everybody, some more than others.

“It hard to me to actually put into words how much of an incredible achievement it is.”

Hinch made some vital saves in the match to ensure the score remained 3-3 at full-time and was hero once again in the shoot-out.

The 27-year-old, along with her coach John Hurst, both work with Wapping’s goalkeeping academy and have been instrumental in making the sport more popular.

Burnside added: “I was not that surprised at how Maddie performed as I have seen her in action many times.

“The game was a bit like the European Games when we won the gold against the Netherlands.

“We went 2-0 down and then we pulled two back to head into the shoot-out but we had that feeling that the draw was a good result.

“We went into the shoot-out in the final with confidence, both times, and the Netherlands looked slightly worried, so if you go into the shoot-out with confidence it does wonders.”

The Yorkshireman also spoke about the team’s chances of retaining their gold, as half of the team members will not be returning to the side for Tokyo 2020.

Alex Danson, Team GB’s leading goalscorer, and captain Kate Richardson-Walsh have both said Rio 2016 could be their last Olympics but Burnside is not worried.

“It is a big question but there are talented young players in the squad. Lily Owlsey can take over the role from Danson as she is continuing to progress, but also I think Maddie will be at Tokyo.

“I think she will still be in contention for the goalkeeping spot but there are younger prospects too.

“Maddie has completely changed the position of goalkeeping.

“She changed it from a position few wanted to play, to a more inspirational and glamorous role.

“We used to be in a position where we would not be able to enter teams into leagues because people didn’t want to play as a keeper.

“But now we have more goalkeepers wanting teams than we can get outfielders to fill and that is thanks to Maddie.”