ODIHAM hockey star Alex Danson has been included in the 33 women squad for England and Great Britain for the next Olympic cycle.

There are 15 new faces to the central squad and the programme at Bisham Abbey is funded by UK Sport and the National Lottery, with huge support from lead sponsors Investec, who recently extended their partnership until after the Tokyo games in 2020.

On the back of Olympic gold and with a home World Cup in London in the summer of 2018, these are very exciting times for the squad, and indeed for the sport in this country.

The first opportunity for the team to shine will come on June 11 when England host the Netherlands on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Head coach Danny Kerry said: "Following a number of months of assessment within our centralised programme we have selected a new initial squad for the Tokyo cycle. We have, I feel, a good depth of skilful, committed, smart, and athletic athletes who are eager to learn, develop and build on the legacy and momentum of the Rio Olympic cycle."

He added: "On a personal level I am excited about the potential that this group, allied to our excellent National Lottery funded programme at Bisham Abbey, holds. With a home World Cup for England on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2018, and the prospect of GB defending an Olympic title in Tokyo 2020 the challenges of this cycle are as clear, significant and exciting as ever."