Commonwealth Games: James Fair determined to go out on high by winning bronze for England

Oct 14 2010 by Paul Wheelock, Chester Chronicle

ENGLAND hockey hero James Fair has vowed to get over his gold medal heartbreak and go out with a bang in Delhi.

Despite producing the performance of his life, the 29-year-old goalkeeper from Pulford could not stop the Three Lions from losing a pulsating Commonwealth Games semi-final on penalty strokes to hosts India.

But former Chester King’s School student Fair does not want his abiding memory of Delhi to be a painful one – and that is why he will be doing all he can to inspire England to victory in this morning’s bronze medal match against New Zealand.

Fair said: “The third-placed play-off is now a massive match as we came here to win a medal.

“It’s a huge disappointment not to be in the final but there are a lot of good teams in the Commonwealth. We are down but we have to pick ourselves up and bring home a medal.”

Fair was in sensational form in Tuesday’s titanic last-four clash at a packed Dhyan Chand Stadium.

After India came from two goals down to tie the contest at 3-3, the former Deeside Rambler single-handedly kept the home nation – backed by partisan support – at bay with a string of superb saves both in normal time and golden goal extra-time.

It was captivating stuff and Southport’s England swimming gold medallist Fran Halsall was moved to post on her Twitter account that she was ‘hoping James Fair can be as amazing as he has been all match’ in the shootout.

But the Cannock Hockey Club star was given no chance with India’s five penalty strokes as vice-captain Glenn Kirkham’s miss proved costly for England.

Fair said: “India really got on top after they equalised so I just had to step it up. The adrenaline was pumping and looking back I really enjoyed it. The Indian supporters are so passionate about their team and country – I’ve not experienced many atmospheres like that.

“It was one of the most memorable matches I’ve been involved in – definitely one to tell the grandchildren about.”

Fair is the area’s sole remaining chance of a medal in Delhi after Kelsall squash star Sarah Kippax lost in the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles and in the last 16 of the mixed doubles.

Welsh super-heavyweight boxer Andy Jones, of Saltney-based Deva Police ABC, got no further than the elimination rounds, while Chester-born gymnast Rob Hunter was unable to help Wales to glory.