The Invicta Dynamos have added a glut of experience to the roster with the signing of former Bracknell Bees captain Matt Foord who joins the club with 20 years of senior hockey and over 600 EPL games under his belt.

Matt Foord’s hockey journey began in Berkshire with Slough where he made his senior debut in the British National League (BNL) aged 17 in 1998/99.  Over the next six seasons the league changed but Foord’s team did not as he remained with the Jets in what had now become the English Premier League (EPL).  The skater, a willing forward or defenceman, appeared 269 times for Slough across all competitions and amassed 133 points with 68 goals and 65 assists.

Matt Foord’s performances drew attention from British ice hockey’s highest division and he ended 2004/05 and began 2005/06 in the Elite League with the London Racers. He would extend his stay at the top table with a stint at the Cardiff Devils the same season before returning to the EPL for the close of the campaign having featured in 63 Elite League games and claimed 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points.

At the end of 2005/06 Matt Foord switched to the Bracknell Bees to begin a relationship with the Berkshire outfit that would dominate his hockey career. The skater stayed with the Bees until the close of 2008/09 and pulled on the Bracknell jersey 195 times scoring on 76 occasions and playing a role in 78 more for 154 points. During this stint he was a league and playoff champion in 2006/07 as the Bees completed a double and he also made a further three outings in the Elite League as he stepped up to assist first the Nottingham Panthers and then the Cardiff Devils.

In 2009 Matt Foord was then tempted away from Bracknell by league rivals Swindon and he would spend two terms with the Wildcats dressing for the team 112 times. Here he continued to be a top performer at this level of the game with 21 goals, 28 assists and 49 points.

Despite settling well in Swindon, Foord could not resist a return to Bracknell and he was back with the Bees in 2011/12 – this the start of seven consecutive seasons in Berkshire taking his total time with the club to a decade. By now he had firmly established himself as a leader and, having worn the ‘A’ of alternate captain between 2011 and 2014, he then captained Bracknell until his departure this summer.

Foord opted for a move this off-season having amassed another 363 appearances for the Bees during which he tallied 61 goals and 104 assists for 165 points. Now the skater brings his wealth of experience to the Invicta Dynamos where he has penned a contract for the 2018/19 campaign.

Speaking on the signing of Matt Foord, Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “Matt is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of hockey both at this level and above behind him and I’m delighted to be bringing that level of experience to the team. He has played both in defence and as a forward, has managed points wherever he has been and, perhaps most importantly, he is a true leader both on and off the ice and a fantastic example to the younger players on the roster.”

“I’m delighted he has agreed to become a part of the Mos, I look forward to working with him and I’ve no doubt he’ll be an important figure for us in 2018/19.”

Having completed his switch to the Dynamos Matt Foord spoke of his move saying, “I talked with Kevin in the summer, was excited about the team he is putting together and thought I could add to the side.”

“I’m very motivated by the new challenge. It also helped that I am good friends with Callum Best who has moved to Invicta this off-season. I’ve heard plenty about the Mos from my 20 years in the game, and the likes of Darren Cotton who always talked fondly of his time here, so I’m looking forward to being part of the team.”

When asked about what he expects to bring to the line-up, Matt Foord said, “Having played in most of the leagues in British hockey, from the Elite League down, I think I can bring some experience and leadership. I’ve played on winning teams so I know what it takes to be successful. I also like to think I’m a hard working player that never takes a shift off, that reads the game well and can play in any position.”

“I like to play physical and solid in my own end”. Lastly Foord expressed his aims for the new campaign when he added, “I think with the squad Kevin Parrish is putting together we have the parts in place to surprise a few teams. I’m excited to see what we can do when the season begins.”

“It looks like we’re going to have a hard working side that will be difficult to play against. With the great support the team get, especially at home, Gillingham will be a tough place for teams to visit and, if we can find some away form, we can definitely be successful”.

Matt Foord will wear the number 16 jersey in Kent. He is the latest player to join the club ahead of the 2018/19 campaign which is set to get underway in September.