BECKY SLATER has been selected to captain the West of England U15 girls hockey squad.

This is the third time in five years that a Jersey-based player has been asked to captain a West of England U15 side.

E&Y Quacker’s player Slater, who broke into the West squad last year, has attended training and selection sessions over a number of weeks since March and received the good news at the final round of U15 selection at Millfield School on Sunday.

Over the next six weeks Slater, an Island Games athlete, will play preparation matches against U14 county boys sides from Avon, Gloucestershire and Devon and will also turn out for Millfield School U16 boys.

The regional tournament takes place at Millfield over the weekend of Saturday 22 to Monday 24 October with four matches against the East, Midlands, North and South over a three-day period.

Slater will also hope to impress the England U16 selectors.

She was asked to attend first round assessments for England after last year’s regional tournament despite being a year young and will hope they show further interest.

Hockey development officer and Slater’s coach in Jersey, Shelagh Herbert, is delighted.

‘Becky has put in a great deal of hard work since last season,’ said Herbert.

‘Her game is maturing with improved receiving skills and vastly improved decision-making.

Her athleticism and speed is a great asset at regional level and should help in her quest for further success.

‘If the West play her in a striking role I think she can have a major impact on the tournament.

It’s great for Jersey that another youngster has been selected at regional level and the fact that she is identified as a leader is even more special.’ Another E&Y Quackers player, Jamey Herbert, has also been attending West trials for the U17 age group.

She is now one of the oldest members of the squad which is still yet to be reduced in number and is likely to be announced this month.