MELKSHAM hockey player Liam Sanford has been given a boost after he was included in Great Britain’s Central Programme for the next Olympic cycle.

Sanford is one of nine new additions to the list, as GB head coach Bobby Crutchley outlines his 27-man squad.

The 20-year-old, who is currently in the Royal Air Force as a flight operations assistant, admits it was a nerve-wracking experience when he was rubbing shoulders with Olympians during an assessment camp.

“We went for assessment camps in October and November. The first couple were with just new people they wanted to check out,” said Sanford, whose family still live in Melksham.

“Nobody got cut after that, and then the second three weeks were with returning players from Rio who were going to stay in the programme.

“I was nervous to start with, quite a lot of the players play for the same club and, because I am in the Royal Air Force, I’m separate from everyone.

“But they were really nice, they were a good bunch of lads and I settled in really quickly so it was really enjoyable.

“When you’re being assessed, you’re kind of on edge all the time, but you just settle in and get used to it.”

The programme will offer full-time medical, nutritional and conditioning support for the Team Bath player.

Sanford, who is based in Boscombe Down, says his selection has given him a boost in confidence and he has now set his sights on next year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m the youngest, so to be so selected this young is really good for me, the RAF have been really supportive of it,” he added.

“I’ll be playing hockey on the full-time programme but I will still be in the RAF. They’re releasing me and want to use me for publicity.

“Hopefully once I get there, my hockey will improve, that is all I can ask for.

“During the other programmes, you’d get advice once a month.

“In 2018 I want to go to the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup and then 2020 the Tokyo Olympics, they’re my goals.

“It’s good because you’re all aiming for the same thing. Everyone wants to go to the Olympics, so you’ll push yourself that bit harder.”