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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/33668528
Not expecting to see field hockey in the best sport thread but it's underrated all the same. An excellent run of performances from a very young Wales squad in Lisbon, 29 goals scored and only 2 conceded in their four games. Eight Cardiff players out there including the son of former City player Phil Brignull.
They won the Division 3 title. By the way Sweden are a bit crap at Hockey aren't they? 16-0. Not managed by Slade by any chance?
No, but they were in a period of transition. Ten players and the coach dropped out before the tournament, they somehow ended up being managed by a guy from Cardiff named Jon Elliott who was given the job one week before it started. They only lost their last two games 10-1 and 8-2 so were making impressive progress, another month and they may have drawn a game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pug wrote on Mon, 27 July 2015 10:13
Is this a natural progression from Belgian play off reporting?
Cant quite decide which is the most exciting....
http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif
http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/thumbup.gif
One thing about it that will interest you - it took place right next door to the Estadio Nacional which, I'm sure you know, hosted one of the most famous games in the history of British football in 1967.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy the Jock wrote on Mon, 27 July 2015 21:37
More interested in the hockey if I am honest http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/thumbup.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by Loramski wrote on Mon, 27 July 2015 21:47
I thought you might be.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy the Jock wrote on Mon, 27 July 2015 21:49
Good news. There are several members of this message board that back in the 70's (Yes Silly old sods!), were very keen hockey players - up to Welsh level. Great sport!
Gareth Bale played hockey when he was younger, Jos Buttler too. Buttler was trying to perfect the Dilscoop, long before Dilshan himself started using it, after seeing a deflection at a hockey match go over a player's head. To be honest I'm glad Buttler didn't get credited with it, the Buttscoop sounds rather unhygienic apart from anything else.Quote:
Originally Posted by leeds blue wrote on Mon, 27 July 2015 23:58
Just a quick update to this thread, although I'm sure no one's interested. Wales reached the final of the European hockey B division in Glasgow last week to ensure promotion to the top league for the first time. They won their group despite being the lowest ranked team then beat France 4-3 in the semi. They lost the final 2-1 to Scotland but second place was still an excellent achievement for a young and poorly funded team.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/40903603
Sad to see the Scots abuse their home advantage by holding the tournament during National Bagpiping Week which obviously sapped the morale of all the visiting teams.
It's interesting, I played hockey at lower state league level in Melbourne, early 90's..I sometimes wondered what that might translate to if I had played in Wales....Quote:
Originally Posted by leeds blue
Cutting .Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
A quick(ish) biennial update here. Having secured two successive promotions, Wales found themselves at the top table of European hockey last week in Antwerp. The elite were there; Belgium, Holland, Germany, Spain, England and Ireland. Scotland also qualified.
Wales started off their group games with a 2-2 draw against England, just failing to hold on for a win. Spain were next and with the game being played in Welsh weather and at a time when Spaniards traditionally have their siesta, the omens were good. However, they somehow seemed prepared for these eventualities and ran out 5-1 winners. World Champions Belgium then opened a can of whoop-arse on the Welsh lads and generously declared at 6-0 up.
All was not lost though. While the top two from each group went through to the semis, the bottom two went into a relegation play off group. Wales and England carried the one point from their draw into this, as did Ireland and Scotland from the other group. Scotland beat Wales 4-2 but the other results meant that it came down to the final game. Wales needed to beat Ireland by two goals to stay in the elite group. 2-0 up for a long time, the game was in the balance until City season ticket holder, Dale Hutchinson, scored a fine solo goal. A fourth soon followed and Wales had stayed up for the next Euros in 2021 in Amsterdam.
A great achievement considering the virtually non-existent funding for the sport in Wales, the Welsh team have to largely fund their own trips and training while most of the GB money goes to England. This bias extended to GB Hockey refusing to hand over video footage of other teams for Wales to do analysis. Wales asked Holland instead and they were happy to oblige. Most of the hockey world realises the lack of resources that Wales suffers from and the boys earned a lot of respect for their performances and eventual survival out there.
Goals from the Ireland game here.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/hockey/49460215
A quick follow up to this. Wales qualified for the 2023 Hockey World Cup in India today with a shoot-out win over an excellent Ireland side at Sophia Gardens after a 1-1 draw in normal time. It's the first time Wales men have made it to a World Cup, an amazing achievement considering the lack of funding. They'll be one of the only, if not the only, amateur team out there.
With football on too today I was hoping the timings would work in my favour but, unfortunately, I was able to watch the City game as well. Quite a contrast. If there's a comparison to be made, it's that this run for the Welsh hockey team followed a fractious relegation from the second division of the Euros in 2013, a slide into the mid-thirties in the world rankings and, as now, virtually no funding. A young coach came in full of new ideas, packed the squad with talented youngsters and started the rebuild which has culminated in today's events. I'm not saying it would pan out the same if City tried that way but I'd be more than happy to see us give it a go.
something i've been advocating for the last 10 years at our club . football has moved on a million optics but our club hasn'tQuote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
My lad reckons that might have been Kier, a big Arsenal fan.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
I'm never sure about Sutton, talks a lot of rubbish whenever I come across him but I can't tell if it's just an act to wind people up or if he really is stupid and genuinely believes it. He'd love posting on here, he'd be right at home.
He was an Arsenal fan (it was him because I’ve just remembered his name was Kier), but rang up about Lloris’ decline. I think Sutton is on a wind up most of the time and you can’t have a go at him when he slags Wales’ World Cup off - still don’t like him though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
Bump.
Mods, please merge my "Mens Hockey" thread with this as Loramski is well ahead of the curve.
try playing them on iceQuote:
Originally Posted by Pug
I’ve raced motorbikes & karts, played footie, egg chased & American football but the most dangerous (& painful) was playing in goals for the school hockey team. Never again ….
Dangerous game, yes. In one of my lad's first games in Holland he suddenly found himself as last defender on the line as the attacker wound up for a shot. My boy sensibly decided to run in the direction of the corner flag as fast as possible but the striker mishit his shot and nailed him in the head anyway, Uncle Buck style. Slightly ironic that it looks like he'll have to sit out this World Cup because of an injury he got on Xmas Day trying to jump over a puddle. As I said to him- sport is amazing but not always.Quote:
Originally Posted by Des Parrot
Played it once at school and got hit in the face with the hockey stick. Never again.
Anyway, has Mark Drakeford gone to the tournament? I'm sure he wouldn't want to miss out on any networking opportunities and potential trade deals.
He made it to the Angel Hotel to meet the players before they flew out, does that count? Oddly enough, his son used to play in goal for my eldest's team when they were kids. Probably not a close enough connection to call in any favours but I might try my luck one day.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bloop
Having seen the Glammy and Academy threads being banished to Sludge and Wales Bales' board, I've got my fears for this long running enormo-thread too. Let's see what happens.
Anyway, 8 years after a poorly funded Wales team were playing in the third tier of European hockey, a poorly funded Wales team started their third consecutive top division Euros today with a clash against the World Champions, Germany, in Monchengladbach. 3-1 down going into the final quarter in front of a full house was creditable enough (especially as the Germans had won the corresponding game 8-1 in 2021) but Wales managed to claw their way back into it and came up with a 3-3 draw, ruining countless accumulators in the process (possibly).
France up next. No love lost when they play, my lad got sin-binned against them in '21 for celebrating the winner in a French defender's face (when did that become a rule?). Then the World number one ranked Dutch team in the final group game followed by semis or 5-8th play offs.
Whatever happens it'll have been an adventure. The continued chronic lack of funding, in an increasingly professional sport, means that a fall back down the rankings seems inevitable at some point but the lads battle on and are always a credit to the family and friends who turn out to support them.
That's got to be one of the best Welsh sporting results of the twenty first century, well done to all concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
First time I’ve come across this thread and was not aware of whole story, although knew we had improved. Well done for keeping it going and very interesting. Welsh sport needs all the positive PR it can get.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
Germany traditionally one of the strongest hockey nations aren't they? Good draw that.
They are back. I moved them temporarily when the board was struggling as they said they may cull old posts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
Thanks. There was another short thread here on their World Cup experience in January if you're interested.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Worcester
https://www.ccmb.co.uk/showthread.ph...31-Mens-Hockey
I'm flying out in the morning to catch the next three games. Obviously hoping they can build on yesterday's result but no one will be taking them lightly again so it's going to be tough.
They won the World Cup in January, deservedly so too. TOBW's take on it might not be too far off the mark, it was a terrific result.Quote:
Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland
I remember you mentioning something about that, it's good to have them back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris
It's the hope that kills you. After a fantastic draw against Germany the Welsh lads suddenly had to deal with some expectation, for once, as the French were up next in a tricky, but winnable, game. Wales have had the better of them every time over the past 6 years but a slight dip in form and the law of averages did for Wales as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
A heavy loss against the Dutch followed. Absolutely no shame in that, the Dutch are World number one and ended up winning this tournament, but it seemed to knock the stuffing out of the lads and a shambolic 4-1 defeat to the bus-parking Austrians left them guaranteed to finish last with one game left.
A lot of these lads got their chance at international level after the 2013 squad imploded in Vienna, now it looked like this squad would do the same 10 years later. A lot of bad feeling and arguments in the changing room after, unheard of in this tight-knit group, but a team meeting later in the day cleared the air.
Spain needed a win in the last game to guarantee a place in the 2025 Euros. Wales only had pride to play for but they showed plenty of that, fighting back from 3-1 down to equalise late on. A draw would've been very creditable but the chance to beat a top ten side was there and they pushed for a winner. Summing up the week, they got caught on the counter-attack and conceded again with 26 seconds left for a 4-3 loss.
A tough week, time will tell what the consequences will be. One lad retired after the last game, a key back-room staff member too. A few more might feel it's time to call it a day soon, especially if they continue to have to fund the programme themselves. It's dawning on them that further progress is impossible without the kind of backing that other teams are getting.
Sports funding in the UK is very much an issue which doesn’t get the attention it should because it’s set up against all but the favoured few - is the issue of funding Welsh hockey part of a UK wide situation or is it strictly a local matter?Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
I don't know as much about this as I should but my loose understanding is that there's a twofold problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Firstly, the money that comes into GB Hockey is almost exclusively filtered into the English set-up. There was a good example of the contrast between the two in the build-up to the Euros when warm-up games were arranged at Bisham Abbey (which is stunning by the way, what's the Welsh equivalent?). While the professional England team were there as part of a preparation camp, the Welsh lads had to take a half day off work then drive down from Cardiff, London or wherever two days in a row and basically step out of their cars and on to the pitch for a hardly surprising arse-whooping. The long-standing Welsh manager left to join the GB (England) set-up a few years ago because they could offer him full-time employment. As proud a Welshman as you could find but it was a no-brainer for him.
The second problem seems to be with the Welsh Hockey organisation itself. The boys were upset and demoralised to find how much they were expected to contribute this season, it felt like a real kick in the teeth considering the progress they've made on the pitch in the past few years. There's talk of Welsh Hockey going bust but, whatever the issues with funding, it's hard to believe they haven't been able to cash in on 3 Euros and a World Cup by sorting out any kind of sponsorship deals. There was a weird incident in India where a guy came over to where a few boys were sitting and said that Drakeford was keeping in touch with their progress and was trying to sort out a deal with Tata Steel but nothing came of it.
I'll try and find out more about the situation when my youngest gets home but I'm certainly under the impression that the boys feel betrayed by the lack of support they get. The sub goalie in India did his ACL out there, only to find the proper insurance wasn't in place and he still hasn't had the surgery on it 6 months on. The team had to book pitches and organise training sessions themselves this summer because the preparation schedule for the Euros was so poor. It's not a good situation and, as I said, it wouldn't surprise me to see more of the squad dropping out if the situation doesn't improve soon.
I know that with UK funding (lottery?) the likes of cycling are doing really well because it’s successful, but sports have to keep on being successful to continue getting the level of funding they want and there are those that have lost their funding cut completely because their standards have dropped from a peak achieved years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loramski
This doesn’t sound like that sort of case if Wales are suffering as much as that compared to England. The mention of Drakeford is interesting because, with football and rugby enduring something of a slump at national level, the hockey team is a success story even if the Euros didn’t go as well as hoped - seems tome that the WAG could get involved more in something like this.
I'm aware of the issues regarding lottery funding but I don't know where hockey stands there. England seem to be going from strength to strength for now (they finished runners-up in the Euros) so if funding has been cut to GB hockey it's not them that's suffered.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Drakeford was at a send-off for the boys before the World Cup and one of his sons used to play so I can believe he has a personal interest but I guess minority sports just aren't sexy enough to justify putting public money into them.
For me, the issue of sports funding is an important one. Covid showed Britain up as one of the sick men of Europe. If we cut down on the access to sport, be it in schools, grass roots or elite level, that situation is only going to get worse. If sport becomes more self-funding it's going to become harder for working class people to participate. There are all kinds of long term implications here, not that any politician thinks long term these days.