European Lacrosse Championships 24-31 July
A HOST of North West stars have all been selected to represent
England at the European Lacrosse Championships in Prague,
Czech Republic, from 24-31 July.
Stockport's Paul Fullerton, Dave Cottam, Nathan Singleton
and Chris Bland have all been picked for the national team
who are confident of winning silverware at this year's prestigious
event.
Joining Stockport's foursome are Heaton Mersey players Andy
Downing, Nic Gilmore, Andy Ellison and Steve Grace, while
promsing Cheadle attacker Andrew Beard has also been drafted
into the senior squad.
Beard was one of England's star players when the Under-19s
team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the World Championships
in Baltimore last summer.
Stockport coach Bob Patterson will be England's assistant
manager, with Mellor trio Alistair Wallace, Matt Marsh and
experienced goalkeeper - Ben 'Big Mac' McAllister - also given
the chance to shine against the best in Europe.
England have made no secret of their desire to win honours
at this year's event.
And for team manager Greg Caplin and head coach Dave Elwood,
this year's International Lacrosse Coaches Convention in America
was the perfect way of learning from the best in the business.
The United States have dominated international lacrosse for
the last decade and it is no surprise that over 3,500 coaches,
players and enthusiasts attend the annual convention in Philadelphia
to find about the latest happenings in the game.
The England staff are no exception and Caplin and his counterparts
used this year's convention to network with some of the world's
best coaches as well as to try attract some top touring sides
which will come to this country to test the national team.
"We went to the convention to talk to the best coaches
in the world," admitted Caplin. "The US are the
world champions at every level and because of that we can
learn so much from them. Lacrosse in America is booming. The
interest in the sport is growing at a terrific rate."
Indeed, and the England staff also used their trans-Atlantic
trip to meet with promising young American players Frederick
Lee, Daniel Kallaugher and Duncan Swanston who, because of
their English parentage, were allowed to play for England
Under-19s at the World Championships in Baltimore last year.
"Since we've come back from the 2002 Senior World Championships
in Australia we have felt isolated and we knew we needed more
help," admitted Caplin. "That prompted us to form
the National Squads Committee. The national policy is to get
support from everyone in the game and that means looking abroad
as well as on the domestic scene."
Caplin,however, has ruled out the return of John Stickl,
the American defender, who featured for the senior side in
Perth just shy of two years ago.
"John has decided to retire from lacrosse," said
Caplin. "A lot of American kids stop playing once they
leave University, which has what John has done. He won't be
playing for us."
England men's lacrosse team (Euro 2004):
Will Stelfox, Steve Shanahan (Manchester Waconians); Dave
Cottam, Nathan Singleton, Chris Bland, Paul Fullerton (Stockport);
Andy Downing, Nic Gilmore, Andy Ellison, Steve Grace (Heaton
Mersey); Andy Linton, Stephen Warwick (Nottingham); James
Shaw, Sam Davidson (Poynton); Andrew Brickell (Timperley);
Dan Green, Jon Mountney, Chris Mountney (Wilmslow); Alistair
Wallace, Matt Marsh, Ben McAllister (Mellor); Richard Wilson
(Sheffield); Andrew Beard (Cheadle).
Head Coach - Dave Elwood; Assistant coach - Mike Parsons;
Manager - Greg Caplin; Assistant Manager - Bob Patterson;
Trainer - Rachel Lazenby.
England women's lacrosse team (Euro 2004):
Lauren Banner, Hannah Barnsley, Alice Briggs, Lizzie Brown,
Tor Burrows. Charlotte Hill, Jane Hynes, Libby Finch, Daisy
Fox, Bethany Gray, Emma Oliver (co-capt), Laura Pollard, Sasha
Sheard, Nicky Tilbury (co-capt), Lesley Nunn, Sally Ward.
Head Coaches: Jenny Haynes and Jenny Jupp.
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