Article and Photos By Cindy Bagley
I suppose it is all the fault of former Eastman resident Andy Purdy. As a staff member in 1986, he introduced a junior version of lacrosse to the summer recreation program and inspired 8-year-old Matthew Bagley to make a 25-year career of the sport. “Andy’s passion for lacrosse was contagious,” says Matt, “I couldn’t wait to get to Hanover on summer evenings to watch his club team play. Then we’d try to emulate those moves on the Eastman recreation field the next day.”
Matt continued to play lacrosse at Eastman during the summer months. Since lacrosse was not a public school sport in New Hampshire at that time, he attended the Derryfield School in Manchester, where he starred as an all-state midfielder. Matt went on to play for nationally ranked Division III Ohio Wesleyan University under Head Coach Leland Rogers, appearing in three NCAA Tournaments.
After teaching for two years at the Rumsey Hall School in Connecticut, Matt moved to Adelaide, Australia to play semi-professionally for the ETP Redwings Lacrosse Club. Working with lacrosse enthusiasts “Down Under” sealed his enthusiasm for the international lacrosse community.
Returning to the U.S., he quickly seized an opportunity to teach sixth grade English and history at The American School in Switzerland’s England campus. His first order of business was finding an English Lacrosse Club, finally settling on the Walcontin Blues in Surrey. Matt remembers, “The spirit of the members reminded me of my Eastman days. I knew it was the right place for me.”
Matt’s association with the Blues opened amazing new opportunities for advancement in the sport. He captained the South England team, made the national team, brought home a gold medal in the 2008 European Championships in Finland and represented his now native country in the 2010 Lacrosse World Cup Championships, where England placed fifth out of 29 countries.
“I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my sporting career playing for England in the World Games,” says Matt. “Imagine my surprise when I was awarded the position as head coach of the English Men’s National Team. Moving from player to coach has been a challenge, but it definitely helps knowing both sides of the game.”
Last July, Matt and his coaching staff led the England Men’s Team to a second gold medal at the 2012 European Championships in Amsterdam. Matt’s enthusiasm will undoubtedly continue as he prepares Team England for the 2014 World Cup in Denver, CO.
“I can’t express what Eastman has meant to me over the years,:” Matt says. “This community was my dad’s favorite place. Though he passed away 12 years ago, his spirit and my family’s best memories are here. I hope Andy is proud of where his passion and the Eastman Recreation Program led a young player!”
Photo Captions from top to bottom:
England Head Coach, European Championships, Amsterdam2012
Victory! Coach Bagley Gets Iced! European Championships, Amsterdam 2012
Matt at the World Cup, Manchester, England 2010
Goal Scored! World Cup, Manchester, England 2010 • Welcontin Blues 2010
World Cup, Manchester England 2010
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