England reveal hockey squads for Glasgow 2014

Commonwealth Games England have today announced the men’s and women’s hockey squads that will compete for Team England at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (23 July – 3 August 2014).

Ten nations will be participating in each of the Men’s and Women’s Hockey competitions at Glasgow 2014. In the preliminary rounds, teams will be split into two pools of five. The top two teams in each pool will progress to play off for the medals.

England men’s team

Captained by Doncaster born Barry Middleton, the most capped Great Britain and England men’s player of all time, England are looking to improve on their previous two fourth place finishes in Delhi [2010] and Melbourne [2006].

Included in the squad is Tim Whiteman who is recovering well from a broken thumb which he suffered at the Hockey World Cup earlier this month. It is hoped he will return to the squad and compete pre-Games.

An addition to the squad, which recently finished fourth at the World Cup, is Phil Roper [Chester] who with 21 caps to his name is the least experienced athlete in the squad, but he impressed Head Coach Bobby Crutchley in two recent Four Nations tournaments, including the one played at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre back in April.

There are nine Commonwealth Games debutants named in the squad, but with the likes of George Pinner, Iain Lewers, Dan Fox and Mark Gleghorne included in that number England certainly have some good experience to call upon.

England Captain Barry Middleton, playing in his third Commonwealth Games said: “I’m really excited for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and it’s nice to have another major tournament so close to home. Multi-sport events have a different feel to a normal hockey event and there’s always a great atmosphere. I’m proud to be part of Team England and we are aiming to be one of the success stories of the games.”

Commonwealth Games debutant Mark Gleghorne said: "I'm delighted to be selected for the Commonwealth Games. It's my first multi-sport event so I'm really looking forward to the experience and competing in such an environment. Hopefully we can produce the type of performances that will make it a successful and enjoyable Games."

Competing in his second Commonwealth Games, Alastair Brogdon said: "It feels great to have been selected for the Commonwealth games in Glasgow. Having played in Delhi in 2010 I'm really looking forward to representing Team England again. It's a fantastic experience taking part in an event like this where you're surrounded by so many top athletes from a variety of sports.”

“As a squad we've only recently come back from the World Cup in The Hague where we finished just outside the medals. We had some good performances there, but ultimately it's a medal that we want to win.”

The team is as follows:

 

Name	Current Club	Hometown	Position
George Pinner	Beeston	East of England - Ipswich	Goalkeeper
Iain Lewers	Holcombe	Northern Ireland - Belfast	Defender
Dan Fox	Holcombe	South East - Godalming	Defender
Tim Whiteman	Beeston	East of England - Bungay	Midfield/Defender
Barry Middleton	Holcombe	Yorkshire - Doncaster	Midfield/Forward
Henry Weir	Wimbledon	North West - Nantwich	Midfield
Ashley Jackson	East Grinstead	South East – Tunbridge Wells	Midfield/Forward
Simon Mantell	Reading	South West - Street	Forward
Harry Martin	Beeston	East of England - Ipswich	Midfield
Nick Catlin	Holcombe	South East - Marlow	Midfield/Forward
Alastair Brogdon	Wimbledon	North West – Hale	Forward
Michael Hoare	Wimbledon	North West - Formby	Defender
David Condon	East Grinstead	East Midlands - Leicester	Midfield
Phil Roper	Wimbledon	North West - Chester	Forward
Mark Gleghorne	East Grinstead	Northern Ireland - Antrim	Forward
Adam Dixon	Beeston	East Midlands - Nottingham	Defender/Midfield

 

England women’s team

England Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh will be competing in her fourth Commonwealth Games when she steps out onto the turf in Glasgow. With 321 international caps to her name the Manchester born athlete is England’s most experienced squad member and has captained her side for over a decade. She has already announced that this is likely to be her final tournament before retiring.

After finishing 11^th at the recent Hockey World Cup, the team sees a couple of changes to the line-up. Giselle Ansley comes back into the squad and Lucy Wood is selected fresh off the back of a number of impressive appearances for the England Development Squad and in recent test matches against Wales where she scored four times.

Ten of the 16 selected athletes will be making their Commonwealth Games debuts. Alongside the experience of Richardson-Walsh, Alex Danson will be competing in her third Games while Georgie Twigg, Susie Gilbert, Nicola White and Laura Unsworth were all part of the squad who claimed bronze in Delhi four years ago.

England Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh said: “It is always a pleasure and an honour to represent your country at a Commonwealth Games. Being at a large multi-sport event is an excellent experience for the team. It's great to be able to support your fellow athletes and enjoy celebrating Team England's success. I've no doubt that Glasgow will put on a fabulous event.”

Commonwealth Games debutant Giselle Ansley said: “It’s a real honour to have been selected for the Commonwealth Games. For me, missing out on playing at the World Cup was devastating but we are a strong group and I know we can put in some strong performances up in Glasgow.”

“We still have four weeks of training to go in preparation, as well as the Investec London Cup, which is going to be a great experience for us as we build towards Games time.”

Competing in her second Commonwealth Games Georgie Twigg said: “I’m really excited to be a part of Team England again. Delhi was a fantastic experience four years ago and it was great to get a bronze medal at one of my first major tournaments. Playing in a multi-sport event is such a unique experience and I can’t wait to be a part of it again. We were obviously disappointed with the result at the World Cup, but it’s great to have another major tournament in the same summer to go out there as a team and improve on our performances.”

The team is as follows:

 

Name	Current Club	Region -hometown	Position
Maddie Hinch	Holcombe	South East – West Chiltington	Goalkeeper
Giselle Ansley	Surbiton	South West - Kingsbridge	Defender
Sophie Bray	East Grinstead	South East (Surrey)	Forward
Laura Unsworth	Holcombe	West Midlands – Sutton Coldfield	Defender
Lily Owsley	Uni of Birmingham	South East - Bristol	Forward
Zoe Shipperley	Buckingham	South East – Marsh Gibbon	Defender
Georgie Twigg	Surbiton	East Midlands - Lincoln	Midfielder
Ellie Watton	Beeston	East Midlands - Oakham	Forward
Susie Townsend	Reading	South East – Egerton, Kent	Midfielder
Susie Gilbert	Reading	West Midlands - Lichfield	Midfielder
Kate Richardson-Walsh	Reading	North West - Stockport	Defender
Hollie Webb	Surbiton	East Midlands - Belper	Defender
Sam Quek	Reading	North West - Wirral	Defender
Nicola White	Leicester	North West - Oldham	Forward
Alex Danson	Reading	South East - Odiham	Forward
Lucy Wood	Holcombe	South East - Horsham	Forward

 

Team England Chef de Mission Jan Paterson said: “I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to both the men's and women's hockey squads. 19 of the 32 players will be making their Commonwealth Games debuts, with the remainder providing a huge amount of international experience, including our two captains who have five Commonwealth Games between them. They will compete in London prior to their arrival in Glasgow which will aide their final preparations as they head into Glasgow." 

Hockey Team Leader Danny Kerry said: “I’m excited about the two teams we are bringing to Glasgow 2014; the Commonwealth Games represent one of the highlights of an athletes’ career and I know and understand the importance that all involved place on performing to their best at such a prestigious event."