A TALENTED young hockey player has won support from an historic Cheshire company as she plans to travel far and wide flying the flag for women in sport.

Maddie Goodman, from Sandbach, has received backing from breakfast company Mornflake in Crewe as she trains for tournaments in the UK, Europe and South America later this year. 

The 20 year-old, who took up the sport playing for her school Sandbach High and Triton Hockey Club in Alsager, is representing Wales in honour of her Welsh mother and grandmother.

She made her senior debut for Wales last summer in the European Championships qualifiers in Durham, scoring against Slovakia and Croatia. This year she will play in matches against Scotland, Uruguay, Chile, France, Austria and Lithuania.

Maddie said: "Hockey is an amateur sport at all levels and, even as an international, I am required to contribute towards the costs of training and matches, whilst also having to meet the costs of travel and accommodation for training camps across the country.

"Having grown up in Sandbach, I am proud to have received backing from a local company towards my costs of playing in Uruguay and the Euros in Prague.

Maddie meets Charlotte Gribbin at new sponsors Mornflake (Photo: Jan Roberts)

"Mornflake is a true ambassador for sport for all abilities and you can't come from Cheshire without knowing about its long association with Crewe Alexandra FC."

When not playing hockey Maddie is an industrial design student at Loughborough University. She is currently on an internship in Warwickshire with Jaguar Land Rover.  

She added: "Last year was an exciting year for women's sport in terms of football, cricket and rugby and I'm excited to be doing my bit to promote women and hockey on an international stage."

Mornflake, Millers of Mighty Oats since 1675, is also the big name behind the UK Triathlon series which is underway with events for all abilities including the Cheshire Triathlon taking place at Barony Park, Nantwich on May 21.

Competitors will begin their morning with Mornflake oats before undertaking a run, swim and cycle of varying lengths.

Mornflake managing director James Lea said: "We're proud to support women and all abilities in sport.

"Helping young athletes like Maddie is also a great way to promote Cheshire as a hotbed of sporting talent while shouting out about the benefits of our British-grown oats in a healthy diet."