My name is Albie, and I need your help to represent Great Britain at the Underwater Hockey Under 24 World Championships in Gebze, Turkey this July.

Underwater hockey — also known as Octopush — is a fast, physical, and utterly unique sport played on the bottom of a swimming pool. I first discovered it aged 11 at Yearsly pool in York, and I've been hooked ever since.

Why this means so much to me

This opportunity is years in the making — and almost didn't happen at all. In 2021, I was on track to compete with the GB Under 19s squad, only for COVID to wipe out the tournament entirely. It was a disappointing blow, but now the World Championships have come around again and I've been selected for the team.

I finished university in 2025 and I'm currently working part-time as a software engineer to fund my training. I train twice a day, 6 days a week, with three underwater hockey sessions a week alongside cardio and weight training.

What your money will go towards

Unfortunately, there are no grants or sponsorships for underwater hockey, so the cost of competing at the world championships falls on the althletes themselves.

The trip to Turkey alone costs £3,000, covering:

Flights and transport

Accommodation

Tournament fees

On top of that, there are ongoing costs for GB training camps, equipment, gym membership, GB apparel and much more.

Thank you so much for your support, and please do share this page with anyone you think would consider donating.

Watch a game of Underwater Hockey