Saturday, June 21, 2025

Hockey helped shape my England rise, says World Cup-bound Harry Maguire

By The Hockey Paper

Harry Maguire, the Leicester City and England football star, believes that playing a raft of sports as a youngster, including hockey, helped to shape his burgeoning international career.

Maguire, 25, will soon be on the plane to Russia with the England World Cup squad – despite only playing one England under-21 match.

He played for Hull City before capitalising on his £17 million move to Leicester City. Last season he played every minute of Leicester’s Premier League campaign as he caught the attentions of England manager Gareth Southgate.

And Maguire says it is his school days in Chesterfield which provided the catalyst.

“It’s important to play as many different sports as you can as a young lad. It helps your game,” Maguire told The Times.

“Playing rugby helped me with my bravery, weaving in and out of players, helping with agility. Hockey helped my vision and passing, it’s football with a stick, trying to get it in the back of the net.

“I was incredibly competitive, growing up with two brothers, we’d argue and play against each other in the garden continuously. If we have a competition, I want to beat them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi1711uFSQg/?hl=en&taken-by=harrymaguire93

“We’re doing this playground challenge here and I want to beat them. We used to play hours of tennis and badminton. It was really competitive.”

Maguire’s former PE teacher at St Mary’s in Chesterfield, Martin McKee, proved an instrumental coach for the England centre back.

“Martin wants you to play all sports, be fit and healthy,” Maguire added. “I ran cross-country for the county, made national standard in one race, about three miles, up in Derbyshire, running round lakes, [it was] fun but very hard. That got me really fit. I played cricket and golf.”

Hockey great Jamie Dwyer signs off Bloemendaal career with EHL title

Hockey Factory Shop

spot_img

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More from Author

Hockey Pro League: England women edge closer to relegation

Matches are fast running out for England women in their bid...

Unbeaten season for Oxon Boys caps three-year project

Oxon Boys U17 hockey team completed a remarkable season, winning all...

Hockey Pro League: Ireland men score fine win over Belgium

Antwerp continued to prove a happy hunting ground for Ireland as...

Hockey Mentors U14 girls win Holland Elite Cup

Hockey Mentors U14 Girls team achieved a landmark victory at the...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img