HOCKEY Olympian Rob Moore believes Great Britain needs to play more international matches as a team if they are to challenge for the medals at future Games.

Rob, from Colden Common, near Winchester, has just returned from Athens, Greece, where team GB finished in ninth place - their worst Olympic finish for 36 years.

Victories against Egypt and Argentina in GB's first and last pool games respectively were not enough to stave off the effect of heavy defeats against Spain, Germany and 8-2 thrashing by Pakistan, a result the GB coach Jason Lee labelled as "gutless".

But GB managed to salvage some pride with a 4-1 penalty shoot-out victory against South Africa to finish ninth - leading to Lee calling for changes to the national club set-up.

GB only gets together to play as a team for the major tournaments while the rest of the time players represent their individual home nations.

Rob, 23, who was originally a surprise selection in the GB team, thinks there is an argument for more GB representative matches if they are ever to replicate the gold medal success of the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

"If you said beforehand we'd come ninth it would have been a little disappointing," said Rob.

"We were ranked eighth going into the Games, so we expected to finish a little higher.

"There is stall a gap in terms of our retaining the ball relative to the other sides and their core skills are probably much better.

"But we have a lot of talented individuals but the other teams have more quality players - they've got a bigger player pool.

"If you look at Spain two or three years ago, they were ranked nowhere and they've combined a lot of younger players with the experienced ones to come up.

"We've got the England B programme running and there are a lot of young guys coming up through that.

"Maybe playing as GB more often would help our prospects and help get the Scottish guys more involved."

Rob, who played his school hockey at the independent King Edward VI School in Southampton, now represents Teddington, the world's oldest recognised club based in London.

An impressive run of form against Argentina prior to the Games clinched Rob's selection in the Olympic squad.

And, although the team under performed, Rob was happy with his own input.

"It was a very mixed Games. The opening ceremony and staying in the Olympic village was pretty amazing. But the middle bit of the results was a bit of a downer, he said.

"We were up for all of the games.

"Against Egypt, we expected to win that one but it wasn't a push over. We are renowned as slow starters, so it was a good result.

"Pakistan was the lowest point but certainly the result against Spain (1-5) was disappointing. We had a goal disallowed early on - it was not the best decision to allow it but to reverse it was even worse.

"In the game against Germany we made a better account of ourselves."

With just Argentina left to play in the pool matches, GB was staring a 12th place play-off in the face. Rob said: "That was motivation enough" and they eventually ran out winners 4-1.

It was in that game that Rob netted his first and to date only Olympic goal.

"It was a great feeling. I slipped it under the keeper but I was trying to spread it to a guy on the far post.

GB then maintained their performance to beat South Africa in the ninth place play-off.

Rob said: "We've had games against them in the past and they had a good tournament and the difference between finishing ninth or tenth was important.

"We had a better game and, for most of the match, we were superior."

Overall Rob beleives the experience has inspired him on to go and complete in Beijing at the next Olympics in 2008.

"The opening ceremony was awesome. I could not keep the smile off my face and kept waving to everyone.

"Our tournament lasted the whole Games so we did not get a lot of time to look around.

"It was good in the Olympic village, mixing with all the more famous athletes and a few freaky-looking people, like seven feet Chinese basketball players.

"The highlight was definitely marching at the opening ceremony. The village was superb and the food was amazing.

"Beijing is definitely an option and this has spurred me on to go Beijing and be part of a more successful team."

Hockey does not enjoy the financial trappings of professional sports. Like many of his teammates, Rob relies on lottery funding to ensure he can compete at the highest level.

And, despite graduating from Loughborough University last year with a degree in engineering, Rob intends to postpone the working world as long as possible.

"Certainly I plan to go on playing hockey a bit longer depending on funding. I may have to look for part time work but I'm not thinking about that at the moment. We don't know about the lottery funding. It all depends on that really.

"It's vital. As long as it continues, it means I can concentrate on playing."