England call up for Brentwood hockey player

It’s a case of jolly hockey sticks for goalkeeper Molly Smith who has received an England call up - an honour achieved by only a handful of past Brentwood School students.

Fifteen-year-old Molly, who only took up the sport when she started at Brentwood five years ago, will represent England in their two U16 home internationals against Wales and Scotland in July.

Molly’s call up, after an exhaustive selection process, is a very proud moment for Molly and the School. “I feel extremely honoured and excited to make the final England Squad. I’ve been working so hard and to receive this recognition and make this squad, I’m just over the moon with excitement!” she said.

Final squad selection, to whittle down some 55 of the country’s top young goalkeepers, was a rigorous process including numerous assessments and online fitness, core and game management programmes.

Molly first picked up a hockey stick when she attended First Year hockey trials in 2016 and, because of her footballing background, her teacher thought she would make an excellent goalkeeper! She hasn’t looked back.

As well as playing for the school hockey team, Molly plays in goal for Chelmsford Ladies 1st team gaining the coveted place when she was just 13 and the team played in the East Premier Division; that season they were promoted to the National League Conference East.

Molly has also played national league hockey since the age of 14, playing the whole of the 2019-20 season in goal for the Ladies 1st team. Sadly the 2020-21 season was a victim of the Coronavirus pandemic.

And, as if standing guard in a Hockey goal wasn’t enough, Molly also plays in goal for Billericay Town FC’s U16 side as well!

Such success needs a lot of dedication, and during the Hockey season Molly trains twice a week and has specialist one-to-one goalkeeper training with ex GB coach John Hurst. She will now train with England every weekend until the international games.

The Wales match will be held at Millfield School at the beginning of July and the Scotland game will take place the following weekend at Repton School. We wish Molly the best of luck!