Ahead of the TriFinance EuroHockey Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, England women's Head Coach Jason Lee and England men's Head Coach Bobby Crutchley have named their squads of 18 athletes who will compete from 17-25 August.
For the women's squad, named in the squad are nine London 2012 bronze medallists, which includes the welcome return of treble Olympian Helen Richardson who has recovered from a back injury she had surgery on earlier this year. Joining Richardson is the youngest member of the squad, 18 year old Lily Owsley, who made her debut at the Investec World League in June shortly after completing her A Level exams. Owsley scored her first senior international goal last weekend when England faced Belgium in Antwerp on the pitch they will play on next Saturday.
Another treble Olympian and longstanding England captain Kate Walsh will lead her team out next Saturday for her seventh European Championships. After reaching her 300th combined international cap last weekend she will be one of the most experienced players there. Commenting on the tournament and her recent achievements, she said, “It’s really exciting to be heading out to Belgium with this squad. We have some great talent in the line-up and this tournament will give us a chance to test ourselves against the best sides in Europe. I feel really lucky and honoured to have made my 300th international appearance, but my focus is very much on making sure we have the best possible preparation before next week and that we go into the tournament ready.”
England Head Coach Jason Lee added, “Since April it’s been a steep learning curve for some of the new girls coming into the squad, but they have coped with everything incredibly well and I’m excited to go out to Belgium and see what we can do. As long as we perform to our best ability and play the hockey we have been doing in training then we should be very competitive in the tournament.”
The men's line-up contains a balanced mix of experience and youth from the centralised training squad Crutchley has been working with since stepping up to be head coach earlier this year.
There are just six athletes who took part in the London Olympics last summer. East Grinstead’s Iain Lewers is included in the side after he made a welcome return to the defensive line recently, after recovering from a knee injury he sustained last year. A noticeable omission from the 18 is double Olympian Ashley Jackson, who underwent surgery on his ankle after the World League in Malaysia and will be out for the rest of the summer.
England will face Ireland, the Netherlands and Poland in Pool B at the championships. One side which Crutchley’s men are no strangers to is the Dutch, who they have played on numerous occasions this year. Last week, the two sides faced each other in the NOW: Pensions Nations Cup and with 17 goals over a three match series, fans at Wakefield HC were treated to some fantastic hockey.
Speaking about the squad’s preparations for the event and their aim for the tournament, Crutchley said, “The Dutch games last week were encouraging for us and it was great to push such a quality side so close. Having said that, matches before major tournaments don’t always indicate what will happen on the day as different sides prepare in different ways. To predict how we will do overall is very difficult, especially given the inexperience of this side and the inconsistent results we’ve had recently.”
He also added his comments on some of the opposition at the tournament, “If Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands all play at the top of their games it will be very difficult for us to medal, but we also know that there is a lot of potential in this side. First and foremost we will look to our group matches where we are not taking anything for granted. The games against Poland and Ireland will be tough; Ireland have shown how strong they are when they pushed us close in Hamburg and it will be a nervous first game against Poland who we know the least about going into the tournament.”
England captain Barry Middleton is no stranger to the European Champions having competed in five already, and he is looking forward to the challenge ahead, “This is a young squad, but they have delivered everything that’s been asked of them so far and there is a really good level of positivity around the camp. As a player, the EuroHockey Championships is one event that everyone looks forward to and it will be great to test ourselves against Europe’s best.”
England Men’s Squad for TriFinance EuroHockey Championships
Name (Position)
Ben Arnold (Forward)
James Bailey (Goalkeeper)
Alastair Brogdon (Forward)
Tom Carson (Forward)
Nick Catlin (Forward/Midfield)
David Condon (Midfield)
Adam Dixon (Midfield/Defender)
Dan Fox (Defender)
Michael Hoare (Defender)
Iain Lewers (Defender)
Simon Mantell (Forward)
Harry Martin (Midfielder)
Barry Middleton (Midfield/Forward)
George Pinner (Goalkeeper)
Dan Shingles (Midfielder)
Richard Smith (Defender)
Henry Weir (Midfield/Defender)
Ollie Willars (Defender)
England Women’s EuroHockey Championships 2013
Name (Position)
Giselle Ansley (Defender)
Ashleigh Ball (Midfielder)
Alex Danson (Forward)
Susie Gilbert (Midfielder)
Sarah Haycroft (Midfielder)
Maddie Hinch (Goalkeeper)
Kirsty Mackay (Goalkeeper)
Hannah Macleod (Forward)
Lily Owsley (Forward)
Sam Quek (Defender)
Helen Richardson (Midfielder)
Susie Townsend (Midfielder)
Georgie Twigg (Midfielder)
Laura Unsworth (Defender)
Kate Walsh (Defender)
Sally Walton (Defender)
Hollie Webb (Defender)
Nicola White (Forward)
Source: Press Realease England Hockey
