ASHMOOR Hockey Club had another reason to celebrate last weekend as one of its former players made his home international debut.

Sam Taylor had already played a handful of senior England games abroad, but the 20-year-old ran out in his country’s colours on home soil for the first time on Saturday.

Taylor, who rose the playing ranks with Ashmoor and attended South Dartmoor College, was first introduced to the sport as a five-year-old by his dad Mark.

He would go on to play at county level at under-10s and under-12s before catching the eye of West of England selectors as a 14-year-old.

Taylor, who hails from Chudleigh, missed out on selection at under-16s level, before re-entering the fold for England’s under-18s while in sixth form at South Dartmoor.

A Covid-hit trial with the under-21s followed, before a surprise late call-up saw Taylor make his senior England bow in the FIH Pro League against Spain in Valencia on February 5.

He then featured in front of friends and family during last weekend’s double-header with France at London’s Lee Valley Hockey Centre – wearing the number 46, his junior shirt number at Ashmoor.

Talking to the Mid-Devon Advertiser this week, Taylor reserved particular praise for his family and Steve Dinnie – his coach at Ashmoor and former head of PE at South Dartmoor.

‘Steve is just the best hockey man – coach, leader, minibus driver, you name it,’ said Taylor. ‘He has always made sure he gives opportunities to every single kid, both at Ashmoor and at South Dartmoor.

‘My mum and dad were both really proud, too. The sacrifices they have made over the years – especially with me being from Devon – have been huge in terms of getting to where I am now.

‘Dad in particular used to drive me to all areas of the country. I owe a lot to them, so to have my family and my girlfriend all there meant a lot.

‘From an Ashmoor perspective, I’ve spent my entire career there up until recently and everyone has been nothing but supportive.

‘I have a lot of close friends there, so for me to show Steve that achievements like this are possible from Ashmoor is amazing.’

Having seen Taylor grow from boy to man on his hockey journey, Dinnie could barely contain his pride at witnessing his first home England appearance.

‘I was so proud so see Sam make his home debut at the Olympic Park and wouldn’t have missed it for the world,’ said Dinnie.

‘Since he started as a seven-year-old at Ashmoor, and through his school years at South Dartmoor, I’ve seen him grow and develop as both a player and a person. It shows that hard work really does pay off.’

The only sour note on a positive weekend was a hamstring injury picked up on Saturday, which looks set to keep Taylor on the sidelines for three to five weeks.

Once the Plymouth Marjon student is fit and firing again, attentions will turn to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – with selection news set to emerge in around two months’ time.