Gleghorne weighing up GB switch

The Irish Hockey Association has confirmed that international forward Mark Gleghorne is “considering his options” regarding a possible defection to Great Britain. Rumours have ciruclated for months that the 23-year-old Instonians drag-flicker  would follow Iain Lewers — who left the Irish set-up last July — in switching allegiances in the time for the 2012 Olympics in London. While the IHA today stressed that the 73-times capped Gleghorne has yet to decide either way, a spokesperson confirmed the player had informed new Irish coach Paul Revington and some senior players last weekend that he is weighing up a potential move.

Gleghorne is likely to wait and see if the International Hockey Federation (FIH) make a ruling on their residency requirements, which are currently under debate at board level. The lack of a Northern Irish hockey team may prove a stumbling block if any ruling is made, as it could rule both out of a GB setup – something which would surely spark a major political row. In any case, Gleghorne would spend three years out of the international game under the FIH and International Olympics Committee’s (IOC) current ‘wilderness’ rule. This would likely be back-dated to his last appearance in an Irish jersey, which came at the Olympic qualification tournament in New Zealand in February 2008. Gleghorne would therefore be available for GB (and one of the home countries) by February 2011, giving him the best part of 18 months to establish himself in time for the Olympics. But should he opt to depart the Irish set-up, there are of course no guarantees that he would make the grade with GB. Britain are already well-served up front by the likes of Barry Midleton and Stephen Dick – both of whom are of a similar age to Gleghorne and will be around for a while yet – with talented young players such as East Grinstead’s Ashley Jackson also starting to make their mark. Furthermore, the ex-Loughborough Students star’s lack of international hockey during his wildnerness period would likely require a move to a side in a stronger domestic league, who have designs on competing in the EuroHockey League each year. For his part, Lewers has positioned himself well in this regard, given he has been playing in Holland with HGC since the summer of 2007, and reached the EHL final last season with the Hague outfit – who also featured C of I’s John Jermyn in their ranks at the time. Nonetheless, all involved in Irish hockey will be keeping a keen eye on Gleghorne’s situation, given the national side has already lost Lewers, plus five others – Jason Black, Andy Barbour, Mark Irwin, Paddy Brown and, earlier this week, Mark Black – who have retired from international hockey in the last 12 months.