Bird strikes silver in World Cup

WOFF Clint Bird has returned from the Netherlands with a World Cup silver medal, after the Australian over-50s side went down 3-2 to England in the grand final of the International Masters Cup hockey tournament in Rotterdam.

WOFF Bird, the Squadron Warrant Officer at 295SQN, RAAF Base Amberley, played striker in a team that went through the tournament undefeated and finished as the highest-scoring side in its division with 30 goals.

The competition drew more than 100 teams from over 30 countries in 10 divisions, making it one of hockey’s biggest international events. 

Remarkably, the squad had almost no time together before the first whistle.

“We had one training weekend months beforehand and only some of us could make it,” WOFF Bird said.

Australia travelled with 17 players, three of them late reserves, and still dominated every side it met on the way to the final.

England opened the scoring in the seventh minute and again in the 36th before Australia struck back in the 39th, then levelled from a penalty corner in the 52nd. England claimed the win with two minutes left on the clock.

“You get out on that pitch for a grand final, everyone’s got their arms around each other singing the national anthem, and the crowd is right there,” WOFF Bird said.

“The atmosphere was amazing. The facilities were world-class water-based and sand-based pitches, seven of them at one venue alone.”

For WOFF Bird, the tournament was a family affair. His wife, son and eldest daughter made the trip, while his parents – his original inspiration to play – flew down from Mount Isa to look after his youngest boy.

“A big, proud moment for me was when my 16-year-old son was asked to come onto the field and warm up the goalkeepers,” he said.

“But my proudest moment was competing for Australia with my family looking on from the sidelines. 

“Taking the field for the first time in the tournament and seeing them standing there cheering you on is a tearjerker.

“The camaraderie over there relates straight back to Defence, and the team cohesion included the families. Everyone just clicked.”

It was also a far cleaner campaign than his 2024 World Cup in New Zealand, which he played through a fractured eye socket and hamstring tears.

“I copped plenty going in about how long Birdie would last on the field before he got injured,” he said.

“I came out of the tournament uninjured, so it was a really positive experience for me.”

WOFF Bird, who has clocked up 31 years in uniform, is supported as an Air Force Sports Council elite athlete through an allocation including up to $3000 towards uniforms, tournament fees and specialist equipment, and with tournament time recognised as duty rather than leave.

“Every cent helps, and not having to take my own leave is huge,” he said.

“I’m not coming home thinking there goes Christmas or there goes Easter. And my CO said straight away, ‘Yes, you can go. We’ll make it work here’. The support has been phenomenal.”

WOFF Bird was one of at least six serving ADF members competing in Rotterdam across a range of age groups and services, with AIRMSHL Leon Phillips and FLGOFF Andrew Nash rounding out the Air Force contingent. 

WOFF Bird’s sights are now set on the Australian Division 1 side for the next Masters World Cup in 2028, rumoured for Chile.

“My coach told me I had a phenomenal tournament and that I’m already in the team,” he said.

“I told him let’s just get to that stage first.”

His message to aviators thinking about taking up a sport, at any level, is simple.

“Get amongst it,” he said.

“It’s so good for your fitness and your mental health. The camaraderie just extends – it’s all about networking, and it can send you all over the world, like it has me.”