Garvey’s European adventure

This will be their first trip into Europe since they took part in the European Cup ‘B’ division championship in 2006 and the club is looking forward to the new experience.

They take on French champions Lille on Saturday at 2.30pm and hope to get a result from this game as they face the Dutch hockey aces, Bloomandaal on Sunday also at 2.30pm.

The match against the French is the key to the weekend; if Garvey could grab a win then then Sunday’s game could take care of itself as the chances of even drawing with the Dutch is decidedly slim. Garvey have to put all their efforts into Saturday’s clash and on recent form they will have to raise their game a few notches to effect a result.

Garvey’s recent matches, apart from the keen encounter against Cookstown, have been far from taxing and if they do not hit the ground running against Lille their participation in the EHL could be over at an early stage.

The few weeks have seen the team without a full complement of players with top performers, Timmy Cockram and Mark Raphael being on the injury list. However, Raphael played on Saturday against Harlequins and immediately had an impact on the match while Cockram hopes to be over his groin injury by the time 2.30 comes about on Saturday. Garvey need all their top players on their game to give them a chance to gain the vital result. The strength of the 18 man squad is crucial in this situation and coach Kyle Lunn has spent the last number of months trying to do just that with the inclusion of Johnny Quigley and Peter Bland.

The party consists of 18 players and a supporting group of around 40 who all make the trip to Gatwick and on to East Grinstead at 10.15am on Friday morning from George Best Airport and hopes are high for a successful tour. If they do make an impact over this week end then they would qualify for the second phase of the competition early in the new year.

The competition is the show piece for the European Hockey Federation with all the matches being covered by Eurosport television, a new dimension even for the Garvey club who play in their 16th European tournament over the last 40 years.

The touring group consists of 18 players plus team coach, ex Garvey goalkeeper Kyle Lunn assisted by ex Garvey full back and multi capped Errol Lutton. John Gray will also be in the coaching team while Garvey stalwart Nigel Howard acts as manager and Chris Bleakley takes on his usual role of club physio.