Published on: Monday, May 9, 2022
After five tough days of trials, the hard work Clare Hayes has put in has finally been rewarded with a place to play in the England Masters Over 50’s squad at the Home Nations in Nottingham and World Cup in South Africa this year.
Clare started playing hockey at the age of eight alongside other sports, then played club hockey at Minehead before moving to Taunton Vale Hockey Club. She retired from hockey to coach Taunton Vale where she coached them to successfully gain promotion to the National League, but realised she missed the camaraderie of playing as part of a team and thought it would be fun to try out for an England Masters squad.
In 2014 Clare completed the England Masters assessments and was selected for the over 40’s World Cup in the Netherlands. She then trialled each year to gain reselection, but ruptured her ACL in 2017 whilst playing the Home Nations in Ireland. After a year out rehabbing her knee she gained reselection for the England Over 45’s.
Clare currently plays at Redland in Bristol and is part of their masters Wereys squad, alongside inspiring and developing players at King’s College, Taunton.