Success at a price for Guernsey
THEY have drawn one of English hockey’s biggest names, but the challenge will not just come on the pitch at Southgate for Andy Whalley’s Guernsey side.
Because just over three weeks before their second round tie in the new England Hockey Men’s Tier Two Championships, the high flight costs have become a hindrance to the island side.
Both the men’s and women’s teams had to wait eight days after progressing through the first round to find out their next opposition, with the draw belatedly happening on Monday afternoon.
And with both being drawn away on the same day – Sunday 12 November – travel logistics and cost have become a major issue for the whole Sarnian group.
‘To go out and come back all in the same day will cost £300 per player because the one-way flight back from Gatwick in the evening is £220 each,’ he said.
‘It is hugely expensive and even if we take a slim squad of 13 players plus a manager, like we did in the first round, it will cost in the region of £4,200 – plus naturally the same again for the women’s team.
‘We are looking at different possibilities of airports and push back times and so on, but either way, it is going to be a big strain on finances.’
Full story in Wednesday's Guernsey Press.
