Alex Danson has been named women’s captain for this summer’s major international hockey events.
Danson is one of England and Great Britain’s greatest ever hockey players, and has 99 goals and 272 caps to her name since making her international debut aged just 16.
The 32-year-old forward will first lead England for this weekend’s Investec Internationals in London, as well as July’s Hockey World League in South Africa, then August’s EuroHockey Championships when England go to Holland as defending champions. Later in 2017, a permanent captain and wider leadership group will be selected.
Also today, Head Coach Danny Kerry has named an 20-strong squad to take on Argentina and Holland at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in the Investec Internationals. Goalkeeper Maddie Hinch is back in the international fold for the first time since Rio, having been playing in Holland for a season. Alongside captain Danson, the squad also includes Rio medallists Laura Unsworth, Susannah Townsend, Sophie Bray, Hollie Webb, Shona McCallin, Lily Owsley and Nicola White. Giselle Ansley is unavailable and will have surgery on a facial injury on Saturday. The squad also includes a number of new faces who will play on home soil for the first time in an exciting stage of their development. Danson said: “It is a huge honour to be handed this captaincy for the summer and to lead a fantastic squad in some very important tournaments. We have a team full of very good leaders so in many ways I will be undertaking the exact same role as normal, and each and every one of us will give our all for the cause.
“I remember as a youngster, dreaming just to be part of the central programme with England and Great Britain, and now the entire squad strives every day to be successful for the country. It is great to be playing at home this weekend in the Investec Internaionals, we have lots of special memories on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and given the growth of the sport since Rio, I think the games against Argentina and Holland are going to be pretty spectacular.”
Tickets remain on sale for Saturday’s game with Argentina, which begins at 2pm at our legacy venue on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Seats are priced from £7.50 for U18s and £19.50 adults in advance, rising by £2.50 on the day of the game. Click here to buy. The Holland match at 2pm on Sunday is completely sold out. Both games are live on BT Sport. After each match, our athletes will sign autographs pitchside and under 18 ticket holders from our Family Stand will be allowed to play hockey on the pitch.
Maddie Hinch (GK), Amy Tennant (GK), Zoe Shipperley, Laura Unsworth, Sarah Haycroft, Anna Toman, Hannah Martin, Susannah Townsend, Susie Gilbert, Joie Leigh, Alex Danson (C), Emily Defroand, Sophie Bray, Hollie Webb, Ellie Watton, Shona McCallin, Lily Owsley, Jo Hunter, Nicola White, Grace Balsdon