IRISH HOCKEY WAS in mourning this weekend after learning of the sudden and tragic death of Cork Church of Ireland senior men’s player/coach Andrew Chambers on Saturday.
The 31-year-old collapsed suddenly on the pitch at Garryduff in Rochestown, Cork immediately prior to the club’s Irish Senior Cup clash with Kilkeel on Saturday, and could not be revived. The cause of his death is not yet known.
Former Cork C of I president Mervyn Kerr yesterday said club members and the hockey public “were both shocked and saddened” by the tragedy, and paid tribute to Mr Chambers.
“Andy had a great interest in C of I hockey and was always very willing in supporting many functions within the club,” said Mr Kerr.
“He was a much-liked and committed club man, a much-decorated sportsman in both hockey and cricket. This year he led a small team of players who were just completing the construction of a new gym for the Garryduff club.
“Andy was also a coach at many levels of hockey both within C of I and Munster. He will be greatly missed by all.
“Our prayers & thoughts are with Andy’s partner Kathryn and son Mathias, parents Tom and Gwen, brother Philip and sisters Susan, Mandy and Jennifer and extended family.”
Pat Sargent, president of the Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association yesterday said everyone connected with hockey was “devastated” by the news.
“Andy was a superb member of C of I, he’d been with them since he was a toddler,” she said.
He died doing something he loved; he loved C of I and he loved hockey. It might not mean much to his family now, but perhaps it may eventually be some little consolation to them.
C of I couldn’t have done any more to save him; there were people present with medical training, and they had a defibrillator in the clubhouse.
It might be a wake-up call that every club needs to have such facilities. I know it didn’t save Andy, but it could save someone else.
A former captain of C of I, Mr Chambers represented Munster and Ireland at underage level in hockey and also cricket, in which he played in the colours of Cork Harlequins and Cork County.
He represented Munster at senior level in hockey and won an Irish Senior Cup (1999) and All-Ireland Club Championships (2003) with C of I.
Domestically, he won nine Munster Senior League titles, seven Munster Senior Cups and seven Peard Cups, before deciding to curtail his playing duties at the end of the 2008/09 season. He took up the role as C of I player/coach this summer.
Cork C of I yesterday confirmed a book of condolences for Mr Chambers will be opened at their Garryduff clubhouse from tomorrow.
This post, by Alan Good, first appeared on Southern Fried Hockey.
