Youth success caps brilliant summer for Cambridge City

A brilliant summer for Cambridge City HC current players and alumni is coming to a crescendo. Over the past few weeks players past and present have progressed at both National Age Group selection level, moving on to the next stage of the selection process, and been selected to represent England and Wales in both U21 and senior international competition.

At National Age Group Level the following have progressed to the next stage of selection: U16 Girls Alex Braid, Holly Hartley and Evie Younger, U18 Girls Laila Hollis and Jess Tuff, U16 Boys Ethan Smythe and Ben Sawtell.

At U21 level Cambridge alumnae Katie Curtis and Maddie Axford have been named in the Four Nations tournament taking place at the same time and venue as the EuroHockey Nations Championships. Tom Spreckley who represented the U18 England Boys earlier in the summer has been called up to the U21 squad for the same event in Germany. Katie Curtis' call up follows her senior debut, competing in a Four Nations Centenary Tournament to commemorate 100 years of the Spanish Hockey Federation.

At senior international level Cambridge alumni Ellie Laitey and Becca Daniel were part of the Welsh squad who won bronze at the EuroHockey Nations Championships II event, one of the highest finishes for Wales in recent memory. This weekend Tess Howard and James Albery will be representing England seniors, while fellow Cambridge City alumni Rhodri Furlong will be representing Wales. Albery has had a brilliant summer with Great Britain in the Pro League, finishing second over all behind defending champions the Netherlands. Howard meanwhile will be proud to run out in a pair of shorts, England becoming the first senior international team to field a team wearing a mixture of shorts and skorts. This is following Howard's campaigning for a more inclusive clothing policy under the FIH.

These selections represent the culmination of a brilliant summer for Cambridge City. Current players and alumni have consistently featured in the medal games for the Masters European championships, notably Gareth Andrew, Clive Biddlecombe, Chanre Bond, Bill Davidson, Stephen Graves, Sally Tippen and Robin White who all won their respective age group categories.