England Under 18 European Championships Squads Announced
2nd July 2009The England under 18 squads to take part in the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships have been announced today. The tournament is Europe’s top competition for national teams at under 18 level. The two squads of 18 players will leave for Nivelles in Belgium on Saturday ahead of the week long competition, which alternates between the under 16 (U16) and under 18 (U18) age groups each year.
At U18 level, England’s girls are the defending European Champions, having won the 2007 tournament in Edinburgh while England’s U18 boys finished just outside the medals in fourth place two years ago.
For the Nivelles tournament, being played at Royal Pingouin Hockey Club, England’s girls have been grouped with hosts Belgium, Ireland and France in Pool A while in Pool A of the boys competition, defending Champions Germany, Scotland and Poland are England’s first round opponents.
Talking ahead of their departure this weekend, U18 girls Assistant Coach Charlie Seccombe said: “With a European title to defend, hopes are high in the camp. Preparation has taken a step up over the last few months with plenty of learning taken from our performances in the matches against Germany, Ireland and the Australian schools side.
“The girls are focused on a medal placing and are determined to treat the spectators to some top class performances while in Belgium.”
In goalkeeper James Bailey and forward Johnny Kinder, the U18 boys squad welcomes two of the younger members of the England U21 men’s squad that recently returned from competing in the Men’s Junior World Cup in Singapore and Malaysia.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, U18 boys Head Coach Craig Keegan has high hopes for his team: “I feel this year’s U18 boys team should aim for a finals spot at the European Championships. The inclusion of Bailey and Kinder from the Junior World Cup squad will strengthen an already competitive U18 team.”
Boys manager Steve Floyd echoes Keegan’s sentiments: “We go into the championships with confidence after winning the four nations tournament at Easter but also fully aware that this will be a much stiffer challenge. We know that we need a good start against Scotland and Poland before tackling a strong German side.
“If we perform at our best we know that we will be competitive and in tournament hockey anything can happen.”
The U18 boys recently warmed up against EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships opponents Scotland, who they beat 4-0 and 4-2 in two matches in Stirling. The U18 girls also warmed up for the tournament with a three match series against Pool A opponents Ireland in Manchester. During the series they won once, drew once and lost once indicating that competition is likely to be close in Belgium.
England U18 Girls Squad for EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships, Nivelles (Belgium), 6-11 July 2009
Name - JRPC* Cluster – (Club) - School
Emily Atkinson - Wessex Leopards - (Firebrands) - Clifton College
Holly Brown - Mercia Lynx - (Beeston) - Worksop College
Holly Chipman - Wessex Leopards - (Olton & WW) - Cheltenham College
Dulcie Davies (GK) - Saxon Tigers - (Tulse Hill & Dulwich) - Alleyn’s School
Rebecca Dru - Mercia Lynx - (Reading) - Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sarah Haycroft - Wessex Leopards - (Surbiton) - Kingston Grammar School
Jo Hunter - Mercia Lynx - (Buckingham Ladies) - Aylesbury High School
Josie Inverdale - Wessex Leopards - (Reading) - Reeds
Rachel Mack - Mercia Lynx - (Olton & WW) - Bromsgrove School
Jennifer Mashford (GK) - Saxon Tigers - (Teddington) - Richmond
Kate Maxey - Saxon Tigers - (Chelmsford) - New Hall School
Shona McCallin - Mercia Lynx - (Beeston) - Repton School
Holly Payne - Mercia Lynx – (Leicester) - Bablake School
Georgia Rawlinson - Wessex Leopards - (Firebrands) - Cheltenham College
Cherry Seaborn - Saxon Tigers - (Harleston Magpies) - Thomas Mills High School
Alice Sharp - Mercia Lynx - (Belper) - Ecclesbourne School
Hayley Turner - Mercia Lynx - (Cannock) - Kings, Worcester
Jenna Woolven - Mercia Lynx - (Reading) - Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
*JRPC: Junior Regional Performance Centre, a training centre for U15, U16, U17 and U18 age groups as part of the Single System
England U18 Boys Squad for EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships, Nivelles (Belgium), 6-11 July 2009
Name - JRPC* Cluster – (Club) - School
James Bailey (GK) - Not Involved – (Old Loughtonians) - Davenant Foundation School
Nick Bandurak - Mercia Lynx - (Cannock) -Wolverhampton Grammar
Dominic Bowden - Wessex Leopards – (Firebrands) -Millfield School
Andrew Bull - Pennine Pumas – (Brooklands MU) - Holy Cross
Will Collins - Mercia Lynx – (City of Peterborough) - Uppingham School
Alex Czerniewski - Mercia Lynx – (Coventry & N. Warwicks) - Lawrence Sheriff School
David Devey - Mercia Lynx – (Stourport) - Bridgnorth Endowed School
Scott Evans - Pennine Pumas – (Brooklands MU) - Holy Cross
George Farrant - Wessex Leopards – (Firebrands) - Millfield School
Johnny Kinder - Not Involved – (Fareham) - Havant College
Mark Galloway - Pennine Pumas – (Preston) - Cardinal Newman College
Nick Giles - Pennine Pumas – (Formby) - Formby High School
Ross Gilham-Jones - Saxon Tigers – (Canterbury) - Harvey Grammar School
Peter Jackson - Pennine Pumas – (Brooklands MU) - Congleton High School
Aathavan Lingeswaran - Wessex Leopards – (Surbiton) - Whitgift School
Harry Martin - Saxon Tigers – (Old Loughtonians) - Ipswich School
Patrick Smith (GK) - Mercia Lynx – (Southgate) - Saffron Walden County High School
Ben Stoney - Pennine Pumas – (Sheffield Hallam) - Birkdale School
*JRPC: Junior Regional Performance Centre, a training centre for U15, U16, U17 and U18 age groups as part of the Single System
England U18 Girls EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships Fixtures
Date - Fixture - Time
Monday 6 July - England v France - 1830hrs (local)
Tuesday 7 July - England v Belgium - 1830hrs (local)
Wednesday 8 July - England v Ireland - 1830hrs (local)
Friday 10 July – Crossover/Classification Matches
Saturday 11 July - Crossover/Classification Matches
England U18 Boys EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships Fixtures
Date - Fixture - Time
Monday 6 July - England v Scotland - 1400hrs (local)
Tuesday 7 July - England v Poland - 1400hrs (local)
Wednesday 8 July - Germany v England - 1400hrs (local)
Friday 10 July - Crossover/Classification Matches
Saturday 11 July - Crossover/Classification Matches