Some people say they’ve “been there, done that and got the t-shirt”.

18-year-old Dan Ladd lost fives, went to Edinburgh and got nine ties.

The first year hailed the “incredible” support he received, after arriving back into Exeter St Davids at 10.41pm with an array of gifts from uni hockey clubs nationwide.

9 ties, a shirt, shorts, flowers, and a rubber duck…@dladd9 is back. pic.twitter.com/nYY4wKWDtu

— Exeter University Hockey Club (@ExeterUniHC) December 2, 2014

Edinburgh – been there done that got the t-shirt #stash pic.twitter.com/z1Sh5n6cRe

— Dan Ladd (@dladd9) December 3, 2014

Following the now-customary visit from Edinburgh’s hockey team at around 2.15pm (and a cheeky interview with our Tab compadrés up there), Dan was met by eight other clubs on his long journey south.

Representatives of Durham, Leeds, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham, Birmingham, St Paul’s (Gloucestershire) and Bristol hockey clubs all greeted him for 90-second stints at their respective stations, and gifted him food, stash, flowers, wine, club ties and, bizarrely, a rubber duck.

This morning, the Business and Management student told The Tab: “The support I received throughout the day from all the different unis and social media was incredible.

“It will be a experience that I will never forget, meeting some top lads along the way.

“Good luck to next years fresher who will take the agonisingly long trip to the Edinburgh boys and back to Exeter.”

The journey

Dan lost his “lovely game of fives” on Monday night at the hockey club Christmas dinner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxbzOPVHj1w

Exeter – 6.24am

Club Captain @RoryJOC has to help poor Dan through the gate, its going to be a long day! #edinburghfives #firsthurdle pic.twitter.com/X3gNko98Cf

— Exeter University Hockey Club (@ExeterUniHC) December 2, 2014

And the journey begins… #edinburghfives pic.twitter.com/pDYgCjDjfC

— Dan Ladd (@dladd9) December 2, 2014

Edinburgh – 2.10pm

@TheTabExeter @ExeterUniHC @dladd9 We'll be sure to provide.

— The Edinburgh Tab (@TheTabEdinburgh) December 2, 2014

He's arrived @ExeterUniHC pic.twitter.com/7ZhT8YVrt2

— Edinburgh University Men's Hockey Club (@eumhc) December 2, 2014

He's here! @TheTabExeter @euhc_mens @ExeterUniHC pic.twitter.com/W7lLhBXkCe

— The Edinburgh Tab (@TheTabEdinburgh) December 2, 2014

Lovely little exchange of ties #EdinburghFives pic.twitter.com/8Tg3sgFMS6

— Edinburgh University Men's Hockey Club (@eumhc) December 2, 2014

@dladd9 with all his presents and the welcoming committee! @TheTabExeter @euhc_mens @ExeterUniHC pic.twitter.com/TFKvI3ZmX4

— The Edinburgh Tab (@TheTabEdinburgh) December 2, 2014

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@TheTabExeter we were met with irn bru @ExeterUniHC pic.twitter.com/P6fTaJRY1X

— Edinburgh University Men's Hockey Club (@eumhc) December 2, 2014

Durham – 4.51pm

https://twitter.com/DUHC1/status/539829395960385536

Leeds – 6.09pm

https://twitter.com/LUUMHC/status/539845253688492032

https://twitter.com/LUUMHC/status/539846541394337794

Sheffield – 6.52pm

@ExeterUniHC poor @dladd9 seemed lonely so we've joined him for a leg of his journey! pic.twitter.com/ga78i7qTqG

— Hallam Hockey (@HallamHockey) December 2, 2014

@dladd9 @ExeterUniHC care package delivered hope @HallamHockey boys treat you well! #safetravels! pic.twitter.com/hYZPkuWie3

— University of Sheffield HC (@ShefUniHockey) December 2, 2014

Nottingham (at Derby) – 7.26pm

He's arrived @ExeterUniHC fresh weary after quest North. The snuff should keep you on your toes #edinburghfives pic.twitter.com/qQleK4QKez

— UoN Men's Hockey (@uonmhc) December 2, 2014

Birmingham – 8.07pm

1st team & club captains greeting @ExeterUniHC fresher @dladd9 to Birmingham with gifts #frostys #EdinbrughFives pic.twitter.com/yJFERVxpgp

— UOBHC (@UOBHC) December 2, 2014

Gloucestershire (St Paul’s) – 8.51pm

https://twitter.com/StPaulsCMH/status/539889702250500097

Bristol – 9.36pm

Unfortunately the photo looks like it was taken using a potato, but here's the tie swap! #Edinburgh5s pic.twitter.com/Tm54uSFMhv

— University of Bristol Hockey Club (@BristolHockey) December 2, 2014

…and back again – 10.41pm

Look what we found! #edinburghfives pic.twitter.com/QodKQPHVen

— Exeter University Hockey Club (@ExeterUniHC) December 2, 2014

With a weeks worth of food… pic.twitter.com/YV16olcIOp

— Exeter University Hockey Club (@ExeterUniHC) December 2, 2014