Cambridge City Hockey Club pride as quintet earn selection for Great Britain development squads
Five players with links to Cambridge City Hockey Club have been selected in the Great Britain Elite Development Programme squads for 2021.
Current players Maddie Axford and Connor Webb and former players Katie Curtis, JJ Lankfer and James Albery have been included in the GB EDP, which is funded by UK Sport.
It is designed to provide players who have the potential to reach the elite end of the international game the best possible opportunity to achieve their ambitions.
The scheme was first formed for the 2017/18 season, and has already seen several players make the step up to the senior GB squads.
The priority over the coming months will be to prepare players to move into the senior teams following the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympics in the summer.
City’s club president Tim Ireland said: “Cambridge City HC was delighted to see that five of the GB EDP squads were developed through our junior and senior clubs. It’s testimony to their hard work and to the dedication and commitment of our coaching teams.
“We encourage and promote hockey for all standards at Cambridge City and this announcement is a source of real pride for us.”
Helen Richardson-Walsh, City women’s first-team coach, said “I was so delighted to hear of the inclusion of Maddie and Katie in the EP squads.
“They are two very special young players with a huge amount of potential between them - it’s great to see them getting this opportunity to stretch themselves at this higher level.
“I wish them well and look forward to seeing them develop as hockey players and people.”
Simon Webb, the men’s former first-team manager and current press officer, said: “Seeing these players named gives us a lot of pride.
“With the excellent coaching set up and spine of experience running through the club in every team we hope we can continue to support talent that represents our country.”
It is set to be a busy summer with the senior EuroHockey Championships in July and the Junior World Cups for England’s under-21s later in the year.
England teams will also be sent to the inaugural EuroHockey5s Championships.
