Ashley Jackson (2005 M) came to Sutton Valence with a reputation as a junior international ice-hockey player, but at School, as well as developing his considerable field hockey talents, he excelled as a cricketer.  Indeed, he became an U18 Kent cricketer and was mentioned in the 2004 edition of Wisden amongst those with the best batting average in schools cricket.  That season, as a wicket-keeper batsman, he amassed 841 runs, including three 100s, at an average of 76.45 runs per innings.  However, hockey claimed him.  Although he started playing with Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club, he moved to East Grinstead, with whom he still maintains a strong link.  He made his debut for the club’s 1st XI in 2003 when he was 15 years old and was part of their campaign to regain Premier League status for the club.
 
When he was 21, Ashley made the move to play professionally for Dutch side HGC. He remained at the club for two seasons before returning to East Grinstead. During this time, Ashley was named FIH Young Player of the Year (2009) and is the first English player to have received this accolade. The inaugural Hockey India League (HIL), India's premier hockey show, saw him auctioned off to Ranchi Rhinos as one of the highest paid players in the competition. Renamed as Ranchi Rays, Ashley has captained the side since 2015, winning the competition twice in the five years it has been running.
 
Having made his senior England debut in November 2006, aged 19, his career is littered with notable achievements.  In 120 matches for England and 75 for Great Britain, he has scored 79 and 33 goals respectively. In indoor competitions, he has a further 17 appearances and 31 goals to his credit.  As a result, Ashley is currently England and Great Britain's all-time leading goal scorer. As well as playing in three Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games, Ashley has gained six medals in European and world competitions, including golds in the 2008 Euro Hockey Championships and the 2010 Euro Indoor Championships.