Hoare ready to wake up and fulfill a childhood dream in The Hague
7:50am Sunday 25th May 2014 in Sport By Sports reporter
Michael Hoare of Wimbledon Hockey Club will fulfill a childhood dream when he makes his World Cup bow in The Hague on Friday but he's not just going for the experience - gold is firmly in mind.
As an eight-year-old having just joined Formby Hockey Club, Hoare used to pretend he was playing for England at the World Cup, re-enacting the scene with friends.
Fast forward two decades and the 28-year-old will do it for real, this time in the Netherlands, as England begin their bid for a first ever World Cup title on May 31.
Hoare, a former Range High School pupil, made his first England appearance in December 2012 against India in the Champions Trophy before joining the set up full-time in 2013.
And, with the potential of reaching 50 caps while he's at the World Cup, Hoare believes he's playing some of the best hockey of his career - and at the right time with a medal being targeted.
"This is something you dream about from a young age," said Hoare. "I've been playing since I was eight-years-old.
"I remember hitting a ball around with my friends, pretending it was a World Cup final, just like you do in football and then tennis at Wimbledon. To be able to do it is a dream come true.
"I'm going into the tournament feeling really confident, I feel like I'm just getting better and better the more I play international hockey.
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Wimbledon's Hoare ready to wake up and fulfill a childhood dream in The Hague