England Hockey today announced a 17-strong men’s squad to contest this year’s Hero Honda FIH World Cup, giving an early indication of who could feature for England at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The World Cup, which gets underway at the end of next month, also takes place in Delhi and is the test event for the Commonwealth Games. The squad, announced today by head coach Jason Lee, includes midfielder Ashley Jackson, who was named International Hockey Federation Young Player of the Year for 2009.

It also features eight members of the England squad that just missed out on the medals, finishing fourth, at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 – Richard Alexander, Jonty Clarke, Matt Daly, James Fair, Ben Hawes, Glenn Kirkham, Barry Middleton and Rob Moore.

Two further members of the 2006 Commonwealth Games squad – Simon Mantell and James Tindall – are battling it out for one remaining place in the World Cup squad. They are currently undergoing treatment after they both broke a foot. Lee is keen to include one of the players in his squad as long as they can prove their fitness in time for the tournament.

The squad for the World Cup is largely unchanged from that which won the EuroHockey Nations Championships in August 2009, with 20-year-old Nick Catlin the only addition to the group after impressive performances for England at under-21 level and in his senior debut in the ABN AMRO Champions Trophy in Melbourne in December.

Forward Matt Daly has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the Champions Trophy, while experienced defender Ben Hawes returns to the squad after missing the Champions Trophy as Lee offered the development opportunity to his youngest players.

The England World Cup squad is: Richard Alexander (Surbiton), Alastair Brogdon (Bowdon), Nick Brothers (Reading), Nick Catlin (Loughborough Students), Jonty Clarke (Reading), Matt Daly (Surbiton), Adam Dixon (Beeston), James Fair (Cannock), Ben Hawes (Surbiton), Ashley Jackson (HGC), Glenn Kirkham (East Grinstead), Iain Mackay (Reading), Richard Mantell (Reading), Barry Middleton (HGC), Rob Moore (Surbiton), Richard Smith (Loughborough Students), Alastair Wilson (Beeston). And one of the following, depending on fitness: Simon Mantell (Reading), James Tindall (Surbiton).

The 2010 World Cup gets underway on Sunday 28 February and reaches its climax with the gold medal match on Saturday 13 March.

England, ranked sixth in the world, play in Pool B, a group that also includes the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallists – Australia and Pakistan. They open their account against Australia, ranked number two in the world on Sunday 28 February.

They play South Africa (ranked 13th) two days later before facing Pakistan (seventh) on Thursday 4 March and hosts India (12th) on Saturday 6 March. Spain (third) round off England’s Pool fixtures on Monday 8 March.

England Hockey Performance Director David Faulkner will be hockey team manager for the Commonwealth Games and will use the World Cup to test systems at the venue.

Hockey is one of 17 sports to feature on the programme for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. Ten men’s and 10 women’s teams will feature in the Commonwealth Games hockey competition, which runs from 4 to 14 October.
Hockey made its Commonwealth Games debut in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998 and England teams have won medals at each of the three Games to feature the sport – although they have never struck gold.

England’s women won silver and the men won bronze in 1998 and the women won silver again four years later in Manchester. The women won bronze in Melbourne four years ago, when England’s men finished fourth, losing the bronze medal match 2-0 to Malaysia.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games take place in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. They will feature 17 sports - archery, aquatics (swimming, synchronised swimming & diving), athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. With the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Commonwealth Games England is entering a breath-taking four years of sport.

Commonwealth Games England (GCE) is the organisation responsible for selecting and organising England's team at the Commonwealth Games. Team England finished second to Australia on the medal table at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games with 36 golds, 40 silvers and 34 bronzes.

Sport England is a major funder of Team England and its aim is to encourage more people of all ages to start, stay and succeed in sport at every level and to make England the most active and successful sporting nation.



England’s Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010 Fixtures
Delhi, India 28 February – 13 March 2010


Date Opponent Local Time (GMT + 5.5hrs) UK Time
Sunday 28 February 2010 Australia 18:35 13:05
Tuesday 2 March 2010 South Africa 16:35 11:05
Thursday 4 March 2010 Pakistan 18:35 13:05
Saturday 6 March 2010 India 20:35 15:05
Monday 8 March 2010 Spain 16:35 11:05
Thursday 11 March 2010 Possible classification match or semi final
Friday 12 March 2010 Possible classification match
Saturday 13 March 2010 Possible Bronze or Gold medal match


 

For further information please contact the Commonwealth Games England press office at Matchtight Ltd on 07765 071683 or see the CGE’s website at www.weareengland.org <http://www.weareengland.org>

For further information about England Hockey please contact Lawrence West on 01628 897509 or 07525 987283.