England hockey player got 'hooked' at local club
Getty ImagesA hockey player representing England in the World Cup says his first club "still holds a very, very fond place" in his heart.
Nick Bandurak, from Wolverhampton, scored twice in a 4-2 victory over India on Monday and added another in an 8-2 success against Wales on Wednesday.
He started at Cannock Hockey Club and described going on to represent his country as "incredible".
The forward said he was about four when he started "messing about" with a hockey stick.
He had come from a "very sporty family" - both his brothers and his mum played - and he was encouraged to try the game out at Cannock as a youngster.
"That was the beginning of it all really, I just fell in love with it, every part of the game, and Cannock was my club... growing up.
"[It] still holds a very, very fond place in my heart, and always will do, and that was it, I got the bug, and I was hooked."
Getty ImagesBandurak said he used hard, wooden sticks early on but it "didn't deter me at all".
He also recalled there being a sand-based pitch at his school, Wolverhampton Grammar, adding that hockey facilities around the Black Country and West Midlands were a "real mix".
"It's quite sporadic around the country to be able to find the top-class facilities needed to have the sport played at the top level," he said.
"But there are some amazing bases around the Midlands, Cannock obviously being one at Chase Park."
'Maximise every opportunity'
England beat Pakistan 4-1 in their opening group match on Saturday and sealed top spot in Pool D with the win over Wales.
In the second pool stage, England will play Argentina in Pool E in Amstelveen on Saturday evening.
Bandurak, who said he had been "very fortunate" to travel so much as a player, added it was "just important that we try and maximise every opportunity".
"We've been playing some fantastic hockey recently and that [leaves] myself and the other forwards in a fortunate position - that we get the chances to do what we do."
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