Home bird White set to star

OLYMPICS - HOCKEY:

NICOLA White is weeks away from discovering if she will represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

The hockey star, a former Hulme Grammar School pupil, will find out next month — and is confident of getting the nod, having been an ever-present in Danny Kerry’s side over the last two years.

White said: “Everything is going well at the moment and I feel good. We went to Spain and played four friendly matches, just to keep putting into practice what we have been doing in training.

“Now we have returned to training at Bisham as preparations for the big one this summer step up a gear. There will be no more trips abroad this year as teams are coming over here to play against us.

“We take on Argentina at the end of this month, which is sure to keep us on our toes, and we also face Germany and Australia in quick succession.

“The Olympic squad won’t be announced until May so there are still a few blocks of training and matches to get in before then. We have a Test event coming up next month and also the London Cup in June so we have high hopes to keep producing good performances before the Olympics.”

White plays her club hockey in Slough but still makes time for frequent visits to Oldham to see her family.

“I have family dotted around Oldham and I have kept in touch with friends from Hulme,” she added.

“It is not always easy getting home because the training is pretty intense and takes up a lot of my time, but I love getting back to see everyone whenever possible.”