Cornish GK picked to play for England!
Posted by on 21 June 2018
Emlyn first picked up a hockey stick at the age of 10, decided he liked it and asked to join Launceston Youth Hockey Club. His favourite position was in goal and during his time at Launceston the coaches saw a talent not only in this position, but as an outfield player as well.
Launceston Youth coaches persuaded him to go through the England Hockey Single System in which his first year he achieved JAC and continued to JRPC level. Sadly he narrowly missed out being picked to attend hi-pac that year. However, he didn’t give up and the following year he achieved the same level again, narrowly missing out on hi-pac again. Lesser people may have given up by this stage but not Emlyn!
The third year was the start of the Performance Centre in Taunton which he achieved and from here he went on to play in the Futures Cup with Wessex Leopards which they won. From this group of players he was selected for NAGS (National Age Group Squads). Selection to the NAGS* is the highest honour obtainable for a junior hockey player.
As Launceston don’t have an Astro pitch he more recently started his senior hockey at Tavistock and has now progressed on to Plymouth Marjon Hockey Club in Devon. However, his roots will have always begun in Cornwall and I'm sure we all want to wish him well in Belgium next month!
* The NAGS environment provides players with their first taste of international training camps and tournaments. Involvement on the prograrmme will include exposure to a series of best v best training days, training camps and international competition. In addition, players will also have access to a series of regionally delivered training and competition dates via their allocated Performance Centres, both environments bringing together the most high potential talent from across the nation and regions respectively. Players are exposed to professional advice on topics including anti-doping, nutrition, strength and conditioning, injury management and psychology
GOOD LUCK EMLYN FROM YOUR CORNISH HOCKEY FAMILY!!
