Ben Allberry, left, and Jonny Clark (71) arrive to congratulate man-of-the-match Damian Wallen after he scored Guernsey’s first-half equaliser. (Pictures by Peter Carey, 0763046)

COLIN WHALLEY has compared Guernsey’s Hockey Association Trophy success to England winning the silver medal at the 1986 World Cup.

Guernsey-based Whalley is a former Great Britain Olympic player.

He was also the manager of the England side during the 1980s, which in those days boasted the likes of Sean Kerly, Imran Sherwani and Ian Taylor who became household names following Great Britain’s gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

He led them to final of the 1986 World Cup in London.

England could not quite go all the way as they lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Australia.

And at Old Loughtonians ground in Essex on Saturday, he was brought in to lend his experience as an assistant coach to the Guernsey side – captained by his son Andy – who defeated Henley in the final of the HA Trophy.

It was the first time that the Sarnians have ever won the national cup that is for clubs outside the Premier League.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed it and I found it very exciting,’ said Whalley.