Quote Originally Posted by Loramski View Post
This thread started in 2015 as the Wales hockey team, ranked 36th in the world, got promoted from the third division of the Euros. Now they're packing their bags ready for tomorrow's flight to the 16 team World Cup in India.

A mind-boggling achievement, hardly a rags to riches story though. All the players still have day jobs, a gofundme page has been launched to help cover the costs (Neil Taylor put in £500, fair play) and, bar a soiree with Drakeford on Monday and a nerve-shredding interview on Wales at Six last night, it couldn't be much more low profile.

Hard to see Wales getting out of their group. Although playing the hosts in a packed stadium will be an incredible experience, playing Spain is usually an unpleasant one and England should be too good. They'll give it a go though, for sure.

A glamorous start for the Cardiff boys in the squad, a Megabus to Heathrow in the morning. Maybe I'll get some ticker tape to throw as it sets off, that should put them in the mood.
The ten minutes or so of 6.06 I listened to on Sunday included a call from a goal keeping coach in hockey who is/has been involved with the Welsh team - he also talked far more sense about football than you usually hear on that programme. Of course, Chris Sutton had to have a dig as he asked what has the Welsh hockey team ever done.