ALTHOUGH Surbiton have not qualified for European competition this post season after having done so for the previous two years, their director of coaching, Jon Royce, will surprisingly be involved after all, writes Sean Cotter.

He has taken charge of Slough Ladies for the European Club Championships being held in Barcelona starting today (Friday) and concluding on Bank Holiday Monday after their coach, Lesley Hobley, abruptly resigned without explanation two weeks ago.

Royce is director of sport at Kingston Grammar School and one of the Slough Ladies' squad, Adele Brown, is also a teacher there. Royce, who was Great Britain Ladies' coach for the Sydney Olympics before returning to KGS and joining Surbiton, has only taken over the Slough position temporarily, however, in the immediate run up to and duration of the tournament.

Meanwhile three of his Surbiton men players featured in the England Under 21 squad which overwhelmed their French counterparts at Durham over the weekend.

On Saturday, England won 10-0 and the next day went on to beat the hapless French 11-1 when Surbiton attacker Matt Daly scored two, both from open play, and defender James Southgate one from a penalty corner.

Surbiton's Tom Sheridan shared the goalkeeping duties, playing the first half of Saturday's game and the last 25 minutes on Sunday.

Team leader Pete Nicholson confirmed on Monday that all three Surbiton players will be in the Under 21 squad that plays national premier division champions Cannock at their home ground on Sunday week (June 6).

Also playing against Cannock the previous day (June 5) will be Surbiton's David Emery and John Grice for the England B squad.

The four will be joined in Staffordshire by three other Surbiton players - Brett Garrard, Ben Hawes and James Wallis plus Surbiton-registered Jon Peckett - signed from Southgate in mid-season but who has not yet played for the Elmbridge club because of injury together with Rob Moore and goalkeeper Jon Ebsworth from Teddington, who, as surviving members of current 23-strong Olympic training squad, will all be in action for Great Britain early next month in a series of home internationals against leading hockey countries Australia and Pakistan.

Local fans' best chance of seeing the national team in action before the Olympics will be when Great Britain meet Australia at Slough next Thursday (June 3, 7pm).

GB then move to the Midlands to play Australia on June 5 and Pakistan on June 7 (Australia playing Pakistan on June 6, all games at 3pm) at Cannock Hockey Club.

The tri-nation series then switches to the Highfields Hockey Centre in Nottingham with GB playing Australia again on June 9 (7.30pm) and Pakistan on June 11 (noon) with Australia playing Pakistan on June 10 (3pm).