HOCKEY: Although more than a month has passed since the death of Bill Haughton, aged 79, this is the time of year when, with his grandsons to the fore and Three Rock Rovers thriving once more, memories are stirred of his prowess on the field and of his humour on and off the pitch.

Capped 29 times for Ireland between 1952 and 1962, he played an exhilarating game at inside forward which has hardly been equalled. He had vigour, drive, pace, positional sense and a powerful shot which regularly yielded goals for his country, notably when he played in 10 successive matches with his brother, Ken.

Bill, who went on to be an international selector, captained Ireland 15 times, and led Three Rock Rovers, Leinster and the Buccaneers (with whom he revelled in festival fare). He was prominent in many league successes and in three Irish Senior Cup triumphs with Three Rock (1953, '59 and '62), and was also a member of the Dublin University side which last won the cup in 1947.

Typical of the times and reflecting his bonhomie, Bill related the story (in Marcus Webb's history of hockey in Trinity) about a return journey via Holyhead from a tour to Oxford and Cambridge early in 1947: "When we arrived at the mailboat, we met members of the English rugby team en route to play Ireland. Always ready to help the Irish cause, we pooled our limited resources and managed to get six of the English team into the bar. Our bit of sabotage was fairly well advanced when one of the English selectors discovered what was happening.

"He came in and read the riot act and dispatched his charges to their bunks. On Saturday we all went to the rugby international, as all the hockey games were off because of the big freeze. I am pleased to say that Ireland, with Jack Kyle and Co in full flight, won 22-0."

Bill, who was educated at Friends School, Lisburn, also played rugby and soccer before settling into business in Bray, Co Wicklow, and into his long hockey career. He retired from the game in 1975, aged 51.

He was also a hugely accomplished cricketer, being a prolific and exuberant batsman for Trinity (hitting many balls into Nassau Street), Clontarf and Pembroke. An excellent fielder, he played five times for the Gentlemen of Ireland, including a match at Lord's.

He was an inspirational sportsman, of whom his wife, Dorothy, and family are modestly proud.

- D.A.