EXCITING TIMES FOR LEICESTER PLAYERS
Several Leicester stars have been in England action in recent weeks. At senior level England have taken on both Spain and Germany and the side featured Leicester players, past and present. Ex Leicester player Helen Richardson was presented with a cap before the Spain game at Nottingham to mark her 100th England game last month. She was joined in the side by Beckie Herbert, soon to be returning to Leicester after a year with Kampong, Kerry Williams, Chloe Rogers, Gemma Darrington and Katie Long.
Highlight for all fans, but especially those of us from Leicester, was Katie Long's equaliser on Saturday. With no passing option, she burst into the D on the right hand side and hammered a screamer past the Spanish keeper into the far top corner of the net. That game ended 1-1 but on Sunday England triumphed 3-1 with Beckie Herbert setting up Helen Richardson for the first England goal in the 17th minute.
Also at Nottingham, England U18s featuring Holly Payne lost to a very tough Australian schools side 5-4. The Aussies had demolished British Colleges 5-0 on Friday night, a game in which Leicester's Helen Jelley shone for Colleges.
Last weekend (20th-21st June) England travelled to Russelheim to take on Germany. They emerged with honours even, a 3-2 win being followed by a 3-1 loss. The same group of Leicester girls represented England with Chloe Rogers getting England's scoring underway on Saturday. On Sunday, Helen Richardson scored a fine individual goal for England after Germany had taken a 3-0 lead.
The good performances stand England in good stead for the Champions Trophy in Sydney from 11-19 July. England face tough opposition playing Holland (11th), Germany (12th), Argentina (15th), Australia (16th) and China (18th) before a classification match on the 19th. More news on squad selection later in the week.
Holly Payne was again in action for England U18s at Belle Vue against Ireland. After a shock 3-0 loss on Friday the side pulled things around with a 2-2 draw on Saturday and a good 4-1 win on Sunday.
Next weekend the England U18 side travels to Nivelles, Belgium for the European Youth nations Championship. England defend the title won two years ago in Edinburgh.
Over the same weekend, Jess Hickman will be in Ireland playing for England U16s.
The club wishes all its players well in their international games. Come on England!