Alison Waters To Make England Debut At European Championships

London's Alison Waters will make a surprise England squash debut at the European Team Championships in the Netherlands this week.

The 21-year-old from Southgate has stepped up to replace Yorkshire's world No8 Jenny Tranfield, who is suffering with an Achilles injury and is now unable to take part in the event.

Waters, who was selected as first reserve when the team was first announced, will join team-mates Linda Elriani (Sussex), Vicky Botwright (Lancs) and Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) in Amsterdam to defend the title which England's women have held unopposed since 1978.

The European Team Championships will be held at the Frans Otten Stadion in Amsterdam from 27-30 April.

Alison Waters has enjoyed a highly successful run over the past year, winning the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) 'Young Player of the Year' award in December, then in February becoming the first unseeded player ever to reach the women's final in the British National Championships. Later in the same month, Alison picked up her maiden WISPA title, winning the Southport Open in the USA.

"Alison is a young talent with a great future," said England Squash National Coach David Pearson. "She thoroughly deserves her place in the England team."

Waters is overjoyed to be making her England debut: "To represent your country in any sport is the greatest honour, so I'm thrilled to be playing for England for the first time," said Alison. "I feel very sorry for Jenny, but I'm delighted to chosen to take her place.

"When I look back and think of how much I looked up to players like Linda and Vicky when I was much younger, it's fantastic to think that I'm now playing alongside them in the national team! Without doubt, this is the highlight of my career so far," Waters added.

England will also be defending the men's European title in Amsterdam. The all-Yorkshire squad features Lee Beachill, Peter Nicol, James Willstrop, Nick Matthew and Simon Parke.