From bronze to broker.

It’s back to reality this week for Ipswich Commonwealth Games hero George Pinner.

The 27-year-old England goalkeeper returns to his day job in the town as an insurance broker tomorrow, having kept out two New Zealand penalty strokes in Sunday’s bronze medal match.

“It’s all a bit surreal at the moment and it’s not really sunk in,” said Pinner, who recently won his 50th cap for England.

“We wanted to win gold and while it did not turn out that way, we finished on a real high. It was a fantastic achievement.

“We (the team) will now go our separate ways for a month and I return to work on Wednesday.

“It will be strange but I think going back to work will make me appreciate what I have done even more.

“It’s quite a culture shock. At the Games you are the centre of attention, playing on the big stage. Returning to normality makes the success even sweeter and gives me something to focus on away from hockey.”

Sunday’s game finished 3-3 in normal time, leading to a shoot-out which Bobby Crutchley’s men won 4-2, courtesy of Ashley Jackson’s decisive strike.

“I can’t remember much after his strike hit the back of the net, there were a lot of high-fives going on though,” added Pinner.

“A shoot-out is definitely the best way to win a match, although it is the worst way to lose one too.”

He added: “Once I knew the game was going to a shoot-out I was looking forward to playing my part as my performance during the game was not my best. I would have liked to have saved a couple of New Zealand’s shots from open play.”

England, who also fielded fellow former Ipswich School pupil Harry Martin, made up for finishing fourth at the last Commonwealths and at the Olympics by making the podium.

“We want to kick on from here and most of the players are reaching their peak,” said Pinner.

“We have the Champions Trophy in December, in India, the European Championships in England next August, then there is Olympic qualifying with Great Britain.

“Next year is a big one and we will only be a year from Rio then too.

“Now we have been able to finish third, there is no reason why we can’t achieve Olympic success with Great Britain.”