Eleven Kent-based hockey stars have been called up by England for the European Championships on home soil later this month.

Lee Valley at the London 2012 Olympic Park will host the men’s and women’s tournament from August 21 to 30 and 10 players from Medway-based Holcombe HC and one from Canterbury have made the final cut in the 18-strong squads.

Chatham-born Ashley Jackson, who joins Holcs this summer, is joined in the men’s party by keeper George Pinner, Nick Catlin, Iain Lewers, Sam Ward, Dan Fox and skipper Barry Middleton.

Egerton ace Susannah Townsend, like Jackson a former Sutton Valence Schiool, Maidstone, student, is in the women’s squad, coached by former Canterbury coach Danny Kerry, with Holcombe keeper Maddie Hinch and teammate Nicola White included, with Sam Quek getting a recall.

Kerry said: “Sam Quek has taken the opportunity to gain a place within the side (and) Susannah Townsend has shown exciting attacking intent within the preparatory matches.”

England’s women will be hoping to go one better than in the 2013 Championships, where they won silver, narrowly missing out to defending Champions Germany.

England’s men narrowly missed out on a medal in 2013, finishing fourth after defeat to the Netherlands in the bronze medal match.