33-woman hockey squad announced for Team GB ahead of next Olympics

by Dan Surey

A 33-woman hockey squad chosen for Team GB’s run-up to the next Olympic games features 15 players who have not previously played for their country.

The women have been selected by head coach Danny Kerry as he looks to build a team which is capable of defending Team GB’s gold medal from Rio in Tokyo in 2020.

Five of the players included in the squad of 33 play at Kent based clubs Canterbury and Holcombe.

Harriet Anderson Bradley, the chairwoman of the University of Kent’s women’s hockey team, believes that seeing so many new players included in the British squad will help inspire her players.

“Of course, I think it inspires a lot of our girls, it definitely gives some of our top players something to aim towards.

“You only have to look at people like Susannah Townsend, who used to be a Kent student and won gold with Team GB in Rio, to see that reaching that level is entirely within reach.”

Following the success at the Rio games for Britain, the hockey club has become the largest women’s club on the Canterbury campus with over 100 members.

Interest has grown so much that a fourth ladies team has had to be introduced for the first time this year.

“Hockey is one of those sports that people can often be quite shy of if they’ve never played it before.

“Most girls won’t play it in school or don’t know much about it but we’ve had so many girls wanting to give it a go and try it out.”