Born Kalgoorlie, W.A.
20 November, 1953
Terry Walsh was first selected to play for Western Australia in 1974 and such was the quality of his debut that he was immediately chosen in the national team for the World Cup in Malaysia in 1975.
He went on to play 175 internationals before retiring after Australia’s World Cup victory in London in 1986 where he scored one of Australia’s two goals in the final against Germany.
Walsh was used almost exclusively as a striker where his great attributes were explosive speed and strength. As he matured as a player, he developed wonderful ball skills and highly perceptive tactical knowledge.
A serious knee injury midway through his career somewhat blunted his speed but Walsh adjusted to this with shrewd positional play and exceptional leading qualities.
Walsh was the ultimate team player in an era where Western Australian hockey boasted its richest ever array of talent. His superb goal-scoring feats were matched by boundless energy and enthusiasm for his sport.
After four World Cup campaigns, a silver medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and selection for the Moscow and Los Angeles Games, he bowed out in 1986. Walsh was the leading goal-scorer at the 1984 Olympics and is acknowledged as one of Australia’s finest ever strike forwards.
He has since pursued a successful career in coaching having guided the Malaysian national team from 1990 to 1993 and the Australian team from 1997 to 2000. The team won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games. Walsh is recognized as a Master Coach by the International Hockey Federation.