This Is Guernsey

Guernsey’s hockey squad in training

COLIN WHALLEY has backed Guernsey to join the European Hockey Federation but says it needs to be properly looked into.

The island-based Whalley has considerable knowledge and experience of international hockey as a former Great Britain Olympic player and England manager.

He is also the father of Guernsey’s best player, Andy, who is a former national league player and England mixed-team captain.

Last week, Guernsey Hockey chief executive Andy Roberts said that the body would look into joining the federation.

Membership would see Guernsey given international status.

‘I don’t think it would do any harm at all,’ said Whalley Snr.

‘If you look at cricket [as an example] – you’ve got to take the opportunity. But at the end of the day, it’s about finances.’

From 1966-75, Whalley was capped 49 times for England.

He represented Great Britain at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Then from 1980-86, he was the England manager and in his last year in the job he took them to the World Cup final in London.

The English had to make do with silver after they lost 2-1 to Australia.

Theoretically Guernsey could also find themselves at the World Cup if they made their way up through the European ranks.

But before any steps are taken to join the federation, Whalley says that Guernsey Hockey should fully investigate how it would affect their relationship with the English Hockey Association.

At present Guernsey compete in the annual national HA Trophy and are involved with Jersey in county tournaments in the guise of the Channel Islands.

‘I don’t know how it would work with the HA,’ said Whalley.

‘I wouldn’t want it to affect our youngsters’ sides. My immediate reaction is yes [let’s join], but there’s bound to be some repercussions.

‘The idea in principle is quite good, but I don’t know what the side effects would be.’

If Guernsey were to step into European hockey, they would start at the bottom with the likes of Bulgaria, Lithunia, Serbia, Greece and Gibraltar.

A British overseas territory and an Island Games Association member, Gibraltar has a population of just under 29,000 which is more than half Guernsey’s.

They are an example of what Guernsey could achieve.

‘I’ve played hockey in Gibraltar and it [joining the EHF] did them a lot of good,’ said Whalley.

‘I would have thought we’d compete with the smaller countries like Finland, Austria and Gibraltar. Overall I think it would be a good thing.’

The idea has also received positive feedback from a number of top players in the island.

At present the only serious competition that the men’s senior side take part in is the knockout HA Trophy.

Guernsey and Coreix Unwantables midfielder Andy Alford is keen on seeing the island side enter European hockey or a national league, as the Guernsey Rugby Club has.

‘I would like to play in something a bit better,’ he said.

‘I would like to do it if we got the financial backing. Or maybe look at something like the rugby boys are doing.

‘It all sounds like a good idea.’

Alford’s captain at Unwantables and former island defender John Bell is also a fan of the suggestion.

‘My thought is that it can only be to the betterment of hockey locally to play against more overseas competition,’ he said. ‘From a purely selfish perspective it is great to observe such developments but regret that they didn’t happen back when I was playing in the island side.’

But the island men’s coach, Nick Mahy, is not so sure.

‘It’s a difficult one. Our player base isn’t really big enough to aim for something so big,’ he said.

‘When we’ve got a good run of players, it will be fun to do. We’ve exported more quality players than we’ve got in.

‘We’ve not quite got a strong enough squad. We would need 30 for this and we’ve got 16 at the moment.

‘We could get a massive hammering against one of the bigger countries that have a massive player base.’

He sees events such as the Four Islands tournament that is a biennial preseason competition as the way to go.

‘We’re always looking at opportunities,’ he said.

‘The Four Islands competition is starting to pick up and maybe that’s the first stepping stone for where we go next. Then maybe we can take another step up.’