Hockey: Anna and Amber selected for UK Lions

Congratulations to Amber Millard-Smith (3BRD) and Anna Walker (3FOX) who have been selected for the 2021/22 UK Lions squad. 

A busy hockey-filled summer saw both girls represent the Northwest at the Regional U13 Championship in Nottingham before joining other girls from Tensworth to trial for the squad. They were both delighted that they were among only five Tensworth girls who were selected for UK Lions. 

They attended their first training session last weekend and are now looking forward to a season which will see them play internationally in the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Scotland, as well as at the national indoor tournament at the Copper Box Arena, part of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

Over the summer, Amber also joined the previous UK Lions squad in Belfast where she and six others from the 2021/22 cohort joined with the 2019/20 squad to compete against Ulster U16s in a five match process designed to help Ulster and Ireland select their national teams. In a first for UK Lions Girls, the team was unbeaten over the five matches. 

At club level, Amber plays for Deeside Ladies first team in the Northwest Premier Division. Even as the youngest player by two years, she has already bagged her first goal this season in a match against Lichfield, who usually compete in the league above. 

Both girls are excited to make use of our new pitch at King’s as they add school matches to their hockey schedules.