September 2003
In September 2003 the LX Hockey Club, through the endeavours of its Committee persuaded England Hockey that an officially sanctioned team should represent England in all competitions against other national sides, including the European and World Championships. England Grand Masters are now an official England team and, after national trials, the side is selected on behalf of England Hockey by a panel appointed by the LX Club. A player needs to be over 60 by 1st January to be eligible for selection and he does not need to be an LX member.
England Grand Masters are currently European Champions and were silver medallists in the 2006 World Cup in Leverkusen, losing 2-0 to Germany in the final. A year later for the 2004 World Cup an England Over 65 team was also sanctioned and the England Great Grand Masters were silver medallists in Athens. The England Great Grand Masters are currently European Champions and became the 2006 World Champions in the Leverkusen tournament in Germany in September this year by defeating the leading hockey playing countries Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.
The next challenge will be for the Grand Masters and Great Grand Masters to retain their European titles in Canterbury in June 2007 and then for the Great Grand Masters to defend their world title in Beijing after the Olympics in 2008. Proposals are in hand to select an Over 70s team to participate in an inaugural international tournament in Hannover, Germany in June 2007.
