Spain celebrates Over 80 Hockey

On 9^th November 2006 WGMA became the first Masters body to be recognised by FIH and to celebrate the Association’s 19^th birthday WGMA Board member and former Spanish Olympic player Pepe Borrell suggested that Spain should be introduced to Over 80 Grand Masters hockey. WGMA has always looked to break new ground and to encourage the participation in and enjoyment of hockey for older players in countries throughout the world and this was a great opportunity to show Spain how WGMA has extended its initial Over 60 age group to a top age group of Over 80 in its 19 years of existence.

With the support of the Catalan Hockey Federation, two exhibition matches were played at Castelldefels and Terrassa between current European Over 80 Champions England and a Rest of Europe team, organised by former WGMA President Peter Child, which included players from Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Scotland, Wales and Spain. The game featured three former Spanish international players – local legends Jordi Fàbregas (RC Polo) and Antoni Nogués (CD Terrassa), both veterans of the Spanish Olympic teams of 1968 and 1972, and former international Felipe Santamaría from Santander – as well as including a cameo appearance from 95 year-old Manuel Lobo, former player at Junior FC and RC Polo. Also in the Rest of Europe team was Jean-Claude Leclef, former Chairman of the Royal Belgian Hockey Association and a former Executive Board member of FIH.

Both games finished as 2-2 draws with England taking the lead on both occasions only to be pegged back by the Rest of Europe inspired by Jordi Fàbregas who scored three of their four goals, with the other from Antoni Nogués, in answer to three open-play goals for England from Adrian Stephenson (2) and Hugh Mason plus a penalty corner strike by Narinder Lota.

In true WGMA tradition the social side of the event was an important part of the weekend with the highlight being a dinner on Saturday evening for the players and their partners and attended by Xavier Adell Salvatella, President of the Catalan Federation, Marcos Hofmann, President of EuroHockey (EHF) and former FIH President Leandro Negre.

The weekend was a celebration of Grand Masters hockey and a demonstration that hockey can be enjoyed at a competitive level well into later life.

In the words of organiser Pepe Borrell: ‘The level of hockey and the fitness of the players impressed those at the pitch-side and many more who watched the report on Catalan television. I hope it has been a great inspiration to others to keep on playing the game that we all love.’

Rest of Europe

Glyn Thomas (Wales), Friedrich Fuhrmann (Germany), Martin Vellinga (Netherlands), Ian Downie (Scotland) Jean-Claude Leclef (Belgium), Doug Morrice (Scotland), Peter Child (Germany), Jordi Fàbregas (Spain), Antoni Nogués (Spain), Keiran McLernan (Scotland), John Peirce (England), Felipe Santamaría (Spain), Vincent Smith (England), Manuel Lobo (Spain)

England

John Young (Havant), Brian Murrill (Folkestone), Bill Greenwoood (Yeovil & Sherborne), Andy Holden (South Lakes), Martin Kavanagh (St Albans), Narinder Lota (Eastcote), Nigel Spencer-Knott (Southgate), Brian Perryman (Trojans), Ken Wilcock (Bowdon), Peter Danson (Belper), Hugh Mason (Bromsgrove), Tony Jones (Canterbury), Adrian Stephenson (St Albans)

Umpires

Antonio Tolomei (Italy) and Daan Holsboer (Netherlands)

Terrassa, 9^th November 2025

Jordi Fàbregas (right), the playmaker for Rest of Europe is supported by Antoni Nogués (left) and Felipe Santamaría (partly hidden) as he is challenged by England’s Peter Danson