England Hockey has released the names of the 18 athletes that will make up the England U21 women’s squad for the Easter fixtures against Spain at the Highfields Hockey Centre, Nottingham on 10, 11 and 12 April.

The squad features eight players who recently won Gold as Great Britain Youth (U21) at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.  From that successful GB Youth team U21 women’s coach Craig Parnham has called up Sophie Bray, Maddie Hinch, Dilly Newton, Harriet Pearce, Lauren Turner, Georgie Twigg, Hollie Webb and Nicola White.

Turner, Twigg and Webb are joined in the squad by four of their England U18 teammates from last year.  Annabel Hockey Smith, goalkeeper Sarah Mansfield, Zoe Shipperley and Jess Wood were all part of the successful U18 side that won the UK School Games in Bristol in August 2008.

Talking about the matches in April Parnham says, “These games against Spain are the first in the build up to the Junior World Cup in August and they will provide a good opportunity for us to view a number of new players in the group.  It will be interesting to see how we compare to Spain who traditionally produces strong teams.

“Several of the GB youth team are in the squad and will give us some of the necessary experience needed at this level.”

England Squad: Sophie Bray, Laura Bridge, Kirsty Dawson, Tacita Haines, Maddie Hinch, (GK), Annabel Smith, Sarah Mansfield (GK), Emma McCabe, Dilly Newton, Harriet Pearce, Lauren Sherer, Zoe Shipperley, Susie Townsend, Lauren Turner, Georgie Twigg, Hollie Webb, Nicole White, Jess Wood.

Source: England Hockey