Team Bath Buccs’ Liam Sanford makes historic debut as England Hockey win in South Africa
Liam Sanford became the first-ever current Team Bath Buccaneers men’s player to represent England Hockey at senior level as he helped his country to a 5-2 win over South Africa in Cape Town.
The talented full-back, who has been selected for England’s Lottery-funded central programme after impressing in trials, made his debut from the bench during Thursday’s impressive victory.
University of Bath Sports Performance student Peter Scott, supported by a Trendell Sports Scholarship, was also in the squad for England’s opening match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle.
National coach Bobby Crutchley, a University of Bath Hall of Fame for Sport inductee and former Team Bath Buccaneers Head Coach, said: “We’re very pleased with the win and the team put in some excellent spells in the game.
“Unsurprisingly we were a little inconsistent, the group are learning about international hockey, but it was nice to pick up a victory.”
England will play South Africa again and face Germany twice during the week-long tour, which is a key part of their preparations for this summer’s Hockey World League Semi-Final in London.
Find out more about the hockey programme at Team Bath by clicking here.
Pictured top is the victorious England men’s squad featuring Liam Sanford (back, fourth from left) and Peter Scott (back right).
