Students in final trials for squad
NO FEWER than six Loughborough College football players have reached the final trials for the England Colleges Women’s squad taking place this weekend.
Success for Sport students Tiana Hicks, Serena Clarke, Ria Acton and Jodie Hutton together with Natasha Hudson and Jamey Brewster, who are both studying for A-levels at the College, offers the chance to represent the country in a series of international fixtures, including a tour of Barcelona.
The England Colleges Representative Programme, from the England Colleges Football Association (ECFA) and the Association of Colleges (AoC), selected all six players to go through to phase two at Sheffield Hallam University on Saturday, November 18.
Loughborough College Women’s academy are league winners and were recently selected to compete against the best teams in the country for the highest national college football league.
“This was the first time any of our players had gone to national trials and every player got through. Together with this being our first season playing Category One football, this is a fantastic achievement,” said Jenny Sugarman, Elite Sport tutor and coach for the Loughborough College side.
“There were trials for the North, Midlands and South of England with around 120 players between them and all six of our students won through to join around 35 other players for the final phase.
“This will decide the Representative Squad of 24 who will then have the chance to play Ireland U19’s, Welsh Colleges and to join the Barcelona tour.
“With players in our side with links to Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Aston Villa and Loughborough Foxes, our promotion to top level college football and this latest success it’s clear the massive strides we’re taking with our women’s academy football at Loughborough College.”
Jamey Brewster, 16, who studies Biology, Chemistry and English Language A-levels in the Sixth Form at Loughborough College added: “I have been playing football for eight years, including for Derby County Ladies, and it’s been great to develop my skills at the College. It was a very long two weeks waiting for news after the first trial so I was very relieved to finally hear I’d got through. I’m really looking forward to this weekend. I feel very excited.”
Sport student Tiana Hicks, also 16, who has been playing for Loughborough Foxes for two seasons, agrees: “It’s really helping me develop as a player to be getting so many fantastic opportunities with Loughborough College’s academy side. It was brilliant to hear I’d got through and I have a chance to make the final squad. It all pushes me to get better.”