England: Corby is forced out of election
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| England |
May 4, 2003
The Telegraph
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By Claire Middleton
Mike Corby is to withdraw from the election to select the president of England Hockey after being told Sport England would not work with him.
Corby, a former England and Great Britain international, is president of the English Hockey Association, which all but collapsed with debts of £700,000. However, he set up a rescue package and the sport is now run by two limited companies, Hockey England, for the grassroots, and World Class Hockey, for the internationals.
While Corby was not prepared to comment, his supporters revealed yesterday that Sport England had written to Stewart Newton, the chairman of Hockey England, saying they would "reserve the right to re-think their funding" if Corby - or anybody else who had been involved with the EHA - stood for office.
Apparently, Sport England are concerned about "contamination" of the new bodies by committee members of the old, because they fund elite hockey from Lottery cash.
Corby was only just into his tenure as EHA president when the losses were uncovered and it was he who persuaded Newton to loan the sport £500,000 to start afresh.
Jason Lee, meanwhile, will have to delay his retirement for one more game after Loughborough Students surprised Cannock to reach today's Premiership final at East Grinstead.
Lee, the Students' player-coach, is quitting both roles but will go out in style after David Ralph's golden goal gave his side a 3-2 victory. They face Reading in the final.
Holders Olton were knocked out of the women's event after they lost 3-2 to Canterbury, who now face Slough in a repeat of the national cup final.
Canterbury were twice behind, but Christina Houslop scored the winner with 10 minutes left.
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