Colin Whalley

Colin Whalley spent his senior hockey career with Hightown, near Formby on Merseyside. In a long career he became club captain and later president. He went on to win a record 153 Lancashire County caps between 1961-80 and also won 49 England and 20 Great Britain caps. Whalley played in the World Cup on two occasions and was a member of the Great Britain team that finished 12th (out of 16) at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, and he scored in both of Britain’s only two wins, against Argentina and Malaysia.

Whalley became an England selector in 1978 and two years later was appointed the national team manager while he still playing for Hightown. He guided England to a silver medal behind Australia at the 1986 World Cup before retiring shortly afterwards and was replaced by Bernie Cotton.

A fine cricketer, Whalley made his Formby CC début at the age of 18 and was still playing for them in his 40s, and was the one-time club captain. He also played Minor Counties cricket for Cheshire between 1962-65. A Liverpool bank manager by profession, Whalley moved to the island of Guernsey. His son Andrew played hockey for the West of England.