Hockey: Grange hit by Brogdon injury blow

GRANGE have suffered a major blow on the eve of their European hockey adventure next week.

Experienced player Andrew Brogdon has been forced to pull out of the squad for Zagreb.

A groin injury suffered in the Edinburgh club’s agonising late Scottish Cup final defeat by Kelburne has failed to clear up in time.

It’s a bitter blow for the Manchester-born player who has been a key man for Grange, the team that secured second spot in the ten-strong Division One table this season.

The remainder of the squad play Scotland’s Under-21 side at Auchenhowie in Glasgow on Saturday (9.30am) in their final warm-up game before jetting to Croatia for the EuroHockey Club Championship which starts on May 25.

Saturday’s challenge has been brought forward to allow the players time to return to Linlithgow for a fund-raising golf day at the four-star, nine-hole Kingsfield Golf Centre. Places are still available.

Colin Clarke, Grange’s coach, said: “The guys played really well in the last game against the Scotland Under-21 squad winning it 5-2.

“We didn’t have a full squad on duty that day but we’ll have 17 there on Saturday.

“These two games have been invaluable in maintaining momentum after the end of the domestic season.”