Harleston Magpies Ladies’ II captain Lucy Field to represent England in Ladies Masters Hockey Over-40s Four Nations in Ireland

‘Mummy’s playing for England’ is what Lucy Field’s daughter gets to gleefully tell her friends and family.

The Harleston Magpies Ladies’ II captain has jetted off to Ireland to represent her country in the Ladies Masters Hockey Over-40s Four Nations tournament, where she will face the host nation, Wales and Scotland in games played tonight, tomorrow and Sunday.

Field booked her place in the squad after impressing in four rounds of trials that took place, in Telford, between October and March, which tested and assessed people from all over the country.

She has had previous success with England, winning the Over-35s European Championships, held in Holland, in 2019, but despite this not being the first time she has stepped out on the biggest stage with her country, the nerves and excitement never fade.

“It’s absolutely the best feeling in the world,” she said.

“The pride and honour I feel being able to put on that England shirt, it doesn’t matter how many times I’ve done it, there is nothing else quite like it.

“I can’t lie, I feel nervous even talking about it, thinking about stepping out onto the pitch in an England top with my name on the back.

“It is pressure because you do want to do well. I have got it in the back of my mind ‘come on, you’ve done this before, you’ve got a European gold, you’ve scored against Wales’.

“You’ve just got to do the things psychologically that you know are good for you in terms of preparation.”

Field, who will be backed by the support of her husband, children, brother and nephew in Ireland, was a non-travelling reserve for a tournament in 2022, but was inspired to keep working to make sure she would wear her country’s kit again – which she will, tonight.

She admitted the team is incredibly talented, making spots in the squad highly-competitive to land, but stated she has more self belief heading into this tournament.

“As much as you put yourself out there, you do accept you may not get in,” said Field.

“It’s a very inspiring group of women who all have families, jobs and are juggling (other commitments), but when we come together, it’s really, really special and we appreciate our opportunity.

“I still had the opportunity to train with people at a really high level (in 2022), and I’ve always tried to make the best of that, and try not to let my disappointment deter me from trying again.

“Everyone who is in the squad just feels so lucky and is taking everything with both hands to try and do our best. We are a really close-knit group.

“It’s an amazing opportunity and I do feel incredibly proud that I am going to do it.”