TOMMY KIRKLAND: BEYOND LACROSSE
For many, lacrosse is a hobby or a passion that fits around work and life commitments. For Tommy Kirkland, it has been much more than that - a career that has taken him to international stages with Scotland, England and now Great Britain, and a business venture that has grown into Europe’s largest lacrosse teamwear supplier - Pioneer. His journey proves that lacrosse isn’t just for elite players or coaches - with drive, creativity and commitment, it can be the foundation of a successful business too.
Tommy first picked up a lacrosse stick at just nine years old while at primary school in South Manchester. The sport immediately hooked him, quickly overtaking football as his main passion. By 17, he had fully committed to lacrosse, joining Timperley’s first team before progressing to county and then international level. His breakthrough came in 2010, when, at just 19, he represented Scotland at the Senior World Championships in Manchester. Playing at such a high level so young proved formative. “That tournament accelerated my development,” he recalls. “From that moment I knew international lacrosse was something I wanted to pursue at all costs.”
Now, 25 years into his playing career, Tommy continues to compete at the highest level - this time in the Sixes format with the men’s British Lacrosse squad. The shift from long-stick defender in the field game to a more versatile role in Sixes has tested him in new ways, but it’s a challenge he has embraced. “Sixes demands high involvement from everyone,” he says. “I’ve had to learn offensive roles, but leaning on my lacrosse IQ and experience has made it rewarding.”