Matt Daly grew up in Uxbridge
Aug 18, 2008 - 04:02 PM
Brad Kelly
BEIJING -- How ironic that a former Canadian was responsible for denying Canada its first win in field hockey at the Olympic Games.
Matt Daly’s goal with under five minutes to play on Sunday pulled his Great Britain team into a 1-1 tie with Canada, which is how the game would end, leaving Canada at 0-3-1 in the tournament.
It was the third goal of the Games for Daly, who lived in Uxbridge from 1985 to 1991.
“I never really thought about it that way,” the 25-year-old said with a laugh when it was pointed out to him a former Canadian prevented Canada from earning a win.
“I’ve actually got quite a good history against Canada scoring goals. A few years ago I scored a hat trick against them.
“I have a reasonable record against them, so it’s quite nice and I can have a little smile about it.”
Born in Saudi Arabia, Daly moved to Uxbridge at the age of just 20 months because of his father’s work. He lay down some roots until moving back to the UK at the age of eight.
Field hockey wasn’t his first choice of recreation while in Uxbridge.
“Believe it or not, I never picked a (field) hockey stick up until I moved to the UK. I messed about with ice hockey and baseball,” he recalled.
Too young to represent his country four years ago in Athens, the 6-foot-2 forward, who is training to be a teacher in Surbiton, London, is enjoying his first Olympics.
“It’s absolutely amazing. It’s brilliant,” he said. “I mean, I never ever thought all those years ago I would be here.”
To score a goal here at the Games makes it that much more special.
“It’s special to score a goal. But to come to the Olympics, it’s the world stage and to do it, it’s pretty amazing.”
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