St Mary's Student Selected for National Football Trials

Two students from the Physical and Sport Education (PSE) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham have been selected for the England South Team at the Women’s University Football Regional trials. Second year students Ella Hill and Laura Miller are the first students from St Mary’s to be selected to play at the national level. They were selected for the squad after attending the South Team Trials with two more PSE students in January. They will join the Southern Regional Squad as they take part in the national trials and fixtures against the Midlands and Northern Regional Squads on the 11th February, and if successful will go on to compete as part of the England Universities team in an international tournament later in the year. Both Ella and Laura have played a part in the recent success of the Women’s Football Team at St Mary’s, helping to gain promotion into the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier South league last year, This success has put the University inside the top 12 in the UK for Football. They were also a part of the first St Mary’s team to reach a BUCS Big Wednesday Final. Speaking of her selection Ella said, “After all the hard work over the last year, I'm very happy to have been selected and am looking forward to the next stage in the process.” Laura added, “I can’t wait to begin training with the Southern Squad. I am very happy to have reached this stage and look forward to representing the South later in the month.” Sports Coaching Lecturer and Head of Performance for the Women's Football Programme at St Mary's, Liam McCarthy said, “After a fantastic first season at the club, where we pulled together to retain our place in the UK's toughest university women's football league, this really is the icing on the cake. “The recognition of our players' performances externally is validation that we are doing everything right at the club at the moment - and long may it continue. I want to put on record my immense pride for the girls and thank them for their ongoing commitment to the performance programme here at St Mary’s.”