By Richard Bright
Russell Garcia, who won hockey gold at the 1988 Olympics as a player, has been appointed stand-in coach for Great Britain men’s European tour later this month.
Garcia had been assistant coach to Bobby Crutchley before his sudden departure last month.
England Hockey is currently searching for a replacement for Crutchley ahead of the men’s World Cup in India at the end of the year.
The recruitment search ends the day before GB travel out to the continent on June 12.
Great Britain will play five matches across 10 days against Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Mark Gleghorne, who would have recorded his 50th GB cap, hasn’t been selected while David Ames returns to the side after a lengthy injury lay-off and Scotland’s Lee Morton will make his senior debut alongside established compatriot Alan Forysth. Dan Kyriakides is the sole Welshman in the squad.
They begin the tour with two matches against world No 3 side Belgium at Beerschot HC before a single match against the Netherlands in Breda on 18 June.
The tour finishes with two matches against Germany at Rot Weiss HC in Cologne before returning to the UK.
Our matches with Belgium and Germany will be capped matches with the game against the Netherlands uncapped.
GB’s 22-man squad:
George Pinner (GK) (C), Harry Gibson (GK), Brendan Creed, Adam Dixon, Jonty Griffiths, Michael Hoare, Henry Weir, Ollie Willars, Dan Kyriakides *, David Ames, James Gall, Harry Martin, Phil Roper (C), Ian Sloan (C), Barry Middleton, Liam Ansell, Will Calnan, David Condon, Alan Forsyth **, Chris Griffiths, Sam Ward, Lee Morton **
* denotes Welsh athlete
** denotes Scottish athlete
Match schedule
Thu 14 June – Match 1 v Belgium (3pm) – Beerschot HC
Sat 16 June – Match 2 v Belgium (3pm) – Beerschot HC
Mon 18 June – Match 3 v Netherlands (7pm) – Breda *
Wed 20 June – Match 4 v Germany (7pm) – Rot Weiss HC
Fri 22 June – Match 5 v Germany (11am) – Rot Weiss HC
* Match with the Netherlands is uncapped
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