Whalley boosts Tigers

TOP player Andy Whalley has returned to live in the island. The Sarnian has been banging goals in for Guildford in the English Premier One division for six years and has also captained the England mixed team for the last three.

England beat Wales 5-1 recently and Whalley is keen for them to travel over next June and has discussed it with the new Guernsey Hockey Association president, Jason Robilliard.

'I'm trying to bring the England mixed team over next summer for a weekend to play against the island and possibly a CI side too,' said Whalley. 'The England management and Jason are on board, so fingers crossed.'

At 31-years-old, Whalley decided it was time to return home after living and working in London for 10 years.

Since word had got around that he would be returning, there has been a mad scramble by clubs to grab his signature. Whoever has him will be favourites to win the league and it appears that Tigers are the lucky ones although it has not been ratified yet.

Whalley will not be confining his talents just to playing as he will be helping out coaching the island women's side as well.

'I've not officially joined a team yet, but it will probably be Tigers,' he said.

'I used to play for Beavers and I'm good mates with Mark Babbe. I gather that they have lost some players so it could help balance out the league.

'It's going to be a little different because for the last 10 years I've just been playing, but now I'm going to do some coaching as well.'

Unfortunately for Tigers and the women's side he will be away for most of the season as in October he is travelling in Australia for a couple of months and then in January he is studying in the French Alps for his skiing instructor qualification. But he will be on the island for next year's inter-insular in March.

Whalley has kept his hand in the local hockey scene as he has been captain of the CI team that competes in the county competition for the last six years, but his last inter-insular appearance was in 1993.

'I'm very much looking forward to playing on the island again, and in particular, the opportunity to put one over on Jersey,' he said.