England Head Coach Danny Kerry has made a change to his squad for the Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015. Clifton’s Joie Leigh has been taken ill and so ruled out, her place will be taken by Slough’s Ashleigh Ball.
Ball has 129 caps, 79 of which have come whilst playing for England and she has scored nine times for her country. The No22 will be featuring for the first time in a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup in The Hague. Ball sustained torn knee ligaments in the final game of the competition, sidelining her for nine months. Having successfully completed her rehabilitation she returned to training and has impressed in the last block of preparation to force her way into the group after the news of Leigh’s withdrawal.
England’s first match of the competition takes place on 22 August at 18.15. Coverage is on the BBC Red button and BBC Sport website.
The Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015 showcases the best eight men’s and women’s teams in Europe, including both England teams. England’s women will be hoping to go one better than in the 2013 Championships, where they won Silver, narrowly missing out to defending Champions Germany. The event will offer entertainment both on and off the pitch with a large fan park, including a fun zone for children. The stadium capacity has been expanded to cater for demand for tickets, with some sessions on the verge of selling out again at the increased capacity. The tournament is one of UK Sport’s National Lottery funded events as part of the #EveryRoadtoRio series. You can find out more at www.uksport.gov.uk/events.
England squad for Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015
| Name | Club |
| Giselle Ansley | Surbiton |
| Sophie Bray | East Grinstead |
| Alex Danson | Reading |
| Susie Gilbert | Reading |
| Sabbie Heesh | Leicester |
| Maddie Hinch | Holcombe |
| Ashleigh Ball | Slough |
| Hannah Macleod | St Albans |
| Shona McCallin | Slough |
| Lily Owsley | University of Birmingham |
| Sam Quek | Holcombe |
| Helen Richardson-Walsh | Reading |
| Kate Richardson-Walsh | Reading |
| Susannah Townsend | Canterbury |
| Georgie Twigg | Surbiton |
| Laura Unsworth | East Grinstead |
| Hollie Webb | Surbiton |
| Nicola White | Holcombe |
