Page 189 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Hockey World Cup

Never again

By Brigadier Alex Taylor

Having played hockey from of my agreement to have another go. questioned on at least three occasions,
the age of 14, I ‘retired’ aged Having little or no appropriate attire I welcome to Canberra indeed.
was forced to visit a civilian friend the day
A ten day round robin tournament led
33. When spending a year before my comeback match. Much to his to a final between the best two placed
studying at Cambridge I amusement, he kindly loaned me some nations. England found themselves
realised I was more suited playing kit, a stick and a pair AstroTurf victorious against Scotland, Ireland and
shoes.
New Zealand en route to a final against
to playing golf than playing the hosts who were replete with Olympic
against men in their Later Still medallists from the late 1990s and early
2000s.One of the photos shows me
early twenties, who were Eighteen months later, with said friend impeding the progress of one of the New
considerably quicker, fitter and still using the ‘loaned‘ stick, I lined up Zealand forwards. I can only suggest I had
and more agile than me. for England Over 45’s in a match against just made another remarkably good tackle,
as the ball can be seen at the right hand
University Golf with fixtures Belgium in Antwerp. The idea of shouting side of the photo, or I was just fouling him
“England” in a huddle before a hockey
at Wentworth, Sunningdale, match was a relatively novel concept and I in anticipation of the ball arriving. Those
that have played with me can make up
Brancaster, Woburn, suddenly will happily admit to having to bite my lip their own minds.
to avoid laughing.
seemed more appealing than Sadly, we were to go down 3-1 to the hosts,
another team talk installing Australia Australia, in the final which was slightly
disappointing although I never thought,
the virtues of ‘letting the ball This initial European adventure has led to aged forty something, I would be required
do the work’ and ‘making home nations tournaments with matches to sing my National Anthem before a
sporting event let alone a World Cup
the easy pass’. Having hung against Scotland, Ireland and Wales, the final. I hope my playing performance was
my sticks up I vowed ‘never 2015 European Championship with games better than my vocal rendition. The team
against Italy, Spain and Holland and
again’. in April of this year the 3rd Federation photo shows England’s Over 45’s team
with four people from the all-conquering
International Hockey World Cup in Durham University 1st X1 of 1989 – 1992.
Canberra, Australia. We haven’t aged well. I could produce the
Ten Years Later There I met up with Major Jenny Connell, period team photo but the fashion police
the Army Legal Services Exchange Officer may have me arrested. Never say ‘never
Ten years later, and having just endured/ at the Department of Defence, and her again’.
enjoyed three years at Army Headquarters, counterparts in Canberra. The latter
I was encouraged out of retirement in 2013 were keen to wish us luck in all matches P.S. Ian, if you are reading, I promise I will
by the then Chairman of Army Hockey, bar those against ‘Aussie’. I was soon to bring the stick back soon.
Colonel Alan Taylor (no relation). As the understand the extent of that in the first
date for the match approached I hadn’t five minutes of a pool match against 1: Alex Taylor tackling a New Zealand forward
really turned my mind to the implications Australia, I think I had my parentage 2: Enjoying a post-match isotonic sports drink
3: The England Over 45’s team
1 2 3

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