FIL Championship: Team England Preview

After finishing in fifth place for the last two World Lacrosse Championships, the England national squad looks to crack the Top 4 and maybe even break into the medal round this year in Denver. To do that, they will have a formidable opposition in terms of facing the two favorites in Team USA and Team Canada as well as the Iroquois National Team.

What this team lacks in overall talent comapred to the three favorites to compete for a medal in the FIL Championships, England makes up for in experience. Most of the players on this roster have grown up together playing in the English academies for lacrosse and have played in multiple world championships together.

Leading the way for Team England is a trio of players in Sam Russell, Colin Clive and Nick Anderston. Russell heads the team as he was a 2012 Honorable Mention All-American while playing at Whittier College out in California. He was also a captain for the U-19 team back in 2008 and played in the 2010 World Championships for England.

Clive is a native of St. Anthony’s high school in New York and played at Siena where he aided them to a fourth ranked scoring offense in 2012 and was fourth on the team in points in 2011. Finally, goalie Nick Anderton will be the backbone of the defense. At 32 years of age, this is likely his last FIL Championship competition after playing in the last two.

The rest of the roster can be found below, courtesy of the England lacrosse website.

Aaron Prosser Midfield Drexel University

Ady Bennett Attack Cheadle

Alix Davidson Midfield Poyton

Andrew Baxter Defense Stockport

Ben Lyons Midfield Sheffield

Ben McAllister Goalie Stockport

Bennett Standiford Defense Washington

Bill Fisher Defense Spencer

Chris Brady Midfield Cheadle

Colin Clive Attack Siena College

Connor McDermott LSM Sheffield

Glen Humphreys Midfield Rochdale

Jack Brook Midfield Timperly

Jak Wawrzyniak Defense Heaton Mersey

Josh Roden Attack Timperly

Kyle Standiford Defense Lade

Matt Sexton Attack Penn State

Max Bonsall Defense Siena

Mike Armstrong Midfield Timperly

Mike Richardson Midfield Stevenson

Nate Clare LSM Simon Frazer

Nick Anderton Goalie Cheadle

Nick Watson Attack Rochdale

Ryan Hunns Attack Heaton Mersey

Sam Clare Midfield Simon Frazer

Sam Dexter Midfield Cheadle

Sam Patterson LSM Stockport

Sam Russell Midfield Poynton

Sean Donnelly Midfield Hobart

Shawn Williams Defense Ladnor Pioneers

Tim Blower Goalie Timperly

Tom Bracegirdle Midfield Sheffield

Tom Gallon Midfield Heaton Mersey

Tom Gosnay Midfield Stockport

Tom Williamson Defense Stockport

Tommy Kirkland Defense Sheffield

Will Stelfox Goalie Manchester Wacs

Will Sugden Attack Mellor