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 →

Yesterday James Stock put his World Cup predictions out for everyone to see. For him, there is no going back now. Today, is the second in the series of Experts’ Predictions: Tom Herring of Galvanised Media steps up to the plate. You can find out more about Tom in my “Meet the Experts” piece, or just read on and see what he thinks. Continue reading →