With the family fortune made during the cotton mills boom, the Peel family motto is ‘Industria’, while the coat of arms includes a Bee to symbolise business. It certainly reflects Flora’s attitude to her sport, where her all-action performances have helped England reach the semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games.
The 25-year-old has always had sporting prowess. She won the British Slalom Championships as a 12-year-old skier before hockey took over. “It was amazing fun and I don’t have a clue why I did it, but it’s now more the enjoyment, less throwing myself down the slopes,” she says.
Born in Cheltenham after the family moved south from Lancashire, Peel has been based in Holland in recent seasons, a move which rules out most England or GB players other than goalkeeper Maddie Hinch due to central programme commitments. She had signed to stay out in The Hague but, after joining the programme full-time in January, days later she was flying out to Argentina for her first FIH Pro League games.
“I was thrown in the deep end but feel so lucky to have the opportunity,” she admits. “Many players spend years trying to get their first cap.
“I remember the changing room before the game, someone said the crowd will be something you have never experienced before and it was. I was told to take it all in and when you start playing hockey that’s all you’re thinking about, not about the booing which they do over there.”
