Barry Middleton hat für die kommende Saison einen Vertrag beim Hamburger Bundesligisten Der Club an der Alster unterschrieben.

Wir haben ihn nach den Beweggründen für einen Wechsel in die deutsche Liga und eine der schönsten Städte im Norden Deutschlands gefragt.

Barry, we have heard that you have signed a contract with Der Club an der Alster in Hamburg. What are the reasons for this move from Holland to Germany? Why Club an der Alster as the team is not qualified for the EHL 2010/11?

I have always wanted to experience different European leagues and this year is perfect to play in Germany because of the long break in the middle of the season allowing me time to come back and combine my time with a foreign league and training with the GB team. To play in Holland this year would be too busy for me and I wouldn't commit fully to either my club or my international schedules. Also the different challenges I will face each week in the German league will help improve me more as a player and I'm looking to learn different skills and ideas about hockey.

Alster is a club that has a good history of performing at the top level and they are looking to get back up to being one of the top teams in Germany and Europe and the challenge of helping them get back up there excites me a lot.

I have also heard Hamburg is a great place to live and would like to experience this myself.

With you, Jamie Dwyer and Robbert Kemperman (among others) great players are joining the hockeyliga. The league is getting stronger and international. How do you rank the hockeyliga compared to Holland, Spain and England?

Looking from the outside I have always believed the German league is very strong, this shows in the international teams performances and also UHC have obviously proved it's worth in the Euro league. Without playing in it I can't rank it alongside the other European leagues yet but I am expecting it to be just as tough as the Dutch league where I have just come from.

Obviously those 2 players you mention can only help make the league stronger as well.

2010 is the year of the Commonwealth Games. Will you represent your country in India?

If I am selected for the squad then yes I will be representing England at the commonwealth games, it's a mini olympics for us and great to be involved in.