ALTHOUGH Surbiton have not qualified for European competition for the first time in three seasons, their coach Jon Royce, will surprisingly be involved after all.

He has taken charge of Slough Ladies for the European Club Championships being held in Barcelona starting today (Friday) after their coach, Lesley Hobley, abruptly resigned 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 that 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, and defender James Southgate chipped in with one.

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

All three 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.

Full information on England can be found at www.englandhockey.co.uk.