Jason Lee has an unquestionable pedigree as an international coach. He spent ten years in charge of the England and Great Britain men’s sides. It was a period that saw them rise from 11^th to 4^th in the world. He also guided the team to a European Championship gold medal in 2009 and a silver medal at the 2010 Champions Trophy. He has taken that Midas touch across to the women’s side, too. England picked up a World League bronze medal and a European silver medal in Lee’s first two major tournaments in charge. Now the World Cup looms large on the horizon, can he make it three medals from three? The Top of the D asks him that, and plenty more. Continue reading →

Bobby Crutchley has been involved with the England team since 2005. He worked as Jason Lee’s assistant coach during a period when they moved from 11^th to 4^th in the world rankings. When Lee moved across to take charge of the women’s side Crutchley seized his chance and took up the Head Coach position for the men. He has since presided over a fourth place finish in the Eurohockey Nations Championship in Boom and a bronze medal in the inaugural World League competition. As he approaches his first World Cup in charge, I caught up with him to find out his thoughts on the squad’s progress, their chances in The Hague and the possibility of being crowned “Sir Bobby”.

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Having persuaded three other luminaries of the hockey world to show their hand first in the Hockey World Cup predictions stakes, it is only fair that I too, come up with something. Long time readers of the site will know this is highly out of character for me thanks in part to an uncanny knack of jinxing anyone I back in sporting contests and in part due to my reluctance to open myself up to merciless taunting for my inevitably wrong predictions. Anyway, enough of that. Read on for a first on this site as I nail my colours to the mast.

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Tim Whiteman is not your average, run of the mill international hockey player. With the Central Programme, players now tend to graduate from the Under-21 squad straight into the seniors and a role as a full time hockey player. The Beeston defender however took a slightly different path.

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So far, James Stock and Tom Herring have thrown their hats into the ring with some sterling work on the predictions front.
Now it is the turn of the brains behind @HockeyIssues_  on Twitter, Charlie Gibbons to tell us who’ll win the Hockey World Cup. You can find out about Charlie in my “Meet the Experts” piece, or just read on. Continue reading →