Great Britain Head Coach Danny Kerry has named a squad of 22 athletes to travel to Valencia to face world number 15 side Spain in a three-match test series. The matches will take place at Polideportivo Virgen del Carmen Betero, the same venue Kerry’s team will travel to in June when they battle for Olympic qualification at the FIH Hockey World League Semi Final.
The first of the three capped matches will take place today [10 February] at 1530, with the second match on 11 February at 1530 and the final match of the series on 13 February at 1030.
Great Britain, ranked sixth in the world*, haven’t faced Spain since July 2008; on that occasion they ran out 2-1 winners and have only lost to their European opponents seven times in 36 encounters.
The core of the squad comes from the England team who finished fifth at the recent Champions Trophy with 11 of the athletes who competed in Mendoza featuring in this series – Sophie Bray, Alex Danson, Susie Gilbert, Maddie Hinch, Joie Leigh, Shona McCallin, Lily Owsley, Susannah Townsend, Georgie Twigg, Laura Unsworth and Hollie Webb.
Source: Ady Kerry
There are recalls for Kate Richardson-Walsh, back from time away and a break from the centralised programme, Nicola White and Sally Walton who all missed the tournament in Mendoza.
The squad contains four Scottish athletes with the experienced defender Emily Maguire joined by goalkeeper Amy Gibson, Morag McLellan, and Sarah Robertson. Holcombe player Robertson and goalkeeper Gibson [Slough] are in line to make their Great Britain debuts.
There could also be first Great Britain caps for England’s Lucy Wood [Holcombe] and newcomer to the centralised squad Holly Payne [Leicester]. University of Birmingham striker Lily Owsley is set to make her 50th international appearance, currently on 49 combined England and GB caps (46 England, 3 GB).
Speaking ahead of their departure to Valencia, Head Coach Danny Kerry said: “It’s great to be taking this group to Valencia and to be playing as Great Britain as we look ahead to a big year for the squad with Olympic qualification in June. There are six players in line to make their Great Britain debuts and as ever the combination of talent across the wider squad is an exciting prospect and brings extra competitiveness to selection and raises the bar of performance even further.”
Live match information including scorers can be accessed via this link
*Great Britain automatically inherits its FIH World ranking position from the highest standing home nation side [England, Scotland and Wales] – England are the highest ranked team at number six.
Great Britain Women v Spain – squad information
| Name | Club | |
| 1 | Grace Balsdon | Canterbury |
| 2 | Sophie Bray | East Grinstead |
| 3 | Alex Danson | Reading |
| 4 | Steph Elliott | Holcombe |
| 5 | Amy Gibson | Slough |
| 6 | Susie Gilbert | Reading |
| 7 | Maddie Hinch | Holcombe |
| 8 | Joie Leigh | Clifton |
| 9 | Emily Maguire | Reading |
| 10 | Shona McCallin | Slough |
| 11 | Morag McLellan | Buckingham |
| 12 | Lily Owsley | University of Birmingham |
| 13 | Holly Payne | Leicester |
| 14 | Kate Richardson-Walsh | Reading |
| 15 | Sarah Robertson | Holcombe |
| 16 | Susannah Townsend | Canterbury |
| 17 | Georgie Twigg | Surbiton |
| 18 | Laura Unsworth | Holcombe |
| 19 | Sally Walton | Wakefield |
| 20 | Hollie Webb | Surbiton |
| 21 | Nicola White | Holcombe |
| 22 | Lucy Wood | Holcombe |
