The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Long Sutton Ladies’ 1st goalkeeper Lorraine Wallis is heading to next year’s Masters World Cup in Australia.
The 45-year-old has received a call-up to the England Over-40s side for the tournament in April.
Wallis says the notification was a surprise but she’s thrilled at the prospect.
“It did come out of the blue,” she said. “My age bracket is Over-45s but the 45s are not going so I thought that was the end of that, but I’ve been asked to go with the 40s.”
It will be her second consecutive World Cup, having represented England Over-40s in Rotterdam in 2013.
The team finished third after being knocked out by eventual champions Australia in the semi-finals.
With the holders being on home soil in 2016, stopping them enjoying success again will be a formidable task.
“We were disappointed last time around but it was a fair result. We will try our best again but Australia are on home turf which will be a big plus,” said Wallis, who is chairman of Long Sutton Hockey Club.
She hopes to get at least as much game time as in the 2013 tournament when it was an equal split with Amanda Ferebee, who plays in the National League for Alton and West Warwickshire.
“If not, then I’ll fully understand because she plays at a a much higher level,” said Wallis.
“It was a massive achievement to be seen as equal last time and I feel greatly honoured to be involved again.”
The trip is self-funded but Wallis, who lives in Wisbech, plans to make the most of it by taking the family too and staying on for a while after the 11-day tournament.
She has has been with Long Sutton since the age of 18 and has never thought about playing for any other club.
She said: “Just because I’m very committed to them.
“They are my club and some people joke that if you were to cut me in half I’d bleed green and white!”
Wallis will meet up with the squad for training sessions in January and February ahead of the World Cup in Canberra.
