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Ellie Watton
Ellie Watton
Ellie Watton
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Ellie Watton (born 10 June 1989) is a retired English international field hockey player who played as a forward for England and Great Britain. She made her first international appearance against South Africa on 4 February 2013. She retired [3] from international hockey after competing in the 2018 FIH World Cup in London and has now resumed her teaching career, taking up a position at Rugby School in August 2018. She continues to coach and inspire the next generation of young hockey players [4]

Key Information

Since becoming a full-time athlete she played club hockey at St Albans Archived 23 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Holcombe & Beeston.

Watton grew up in Ashover, Derbyshire and was educated at Highfields School, Matlock and Repton School, Derbyshire. A qualified teacher, she taught and coached hockey at Oakham School until July 2014, and became a full-time athlete, based at Bisham Abbey. She is supported by the National Lottery Fund and sponsored by Osaka Hockey. She has competed for the England and Great Britain women's hockey teams, including the 2014 & 2018 World Cups,[5] 2014 Commonwealth Games,[6][7][8][9][10] 2014 Champions Trophy,[11][12] 2015 World League Finals and was a member of the Rio 2016 Gold medal winning squad.[13][14]

In the final year of her international career, she travelled to Brisbane to compete in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, returning with a Bronze Medal.[15] Her last international appearance was for England in a home World Cup[16] Quarter final - losing 2-0 to the eventual winners, Holland.

References

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Ellie Watton

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
''Ellie Watton'' is a retired English international field hockey player known for her versatile play as a forward and midfielder with England and Great Britain, earning 77 caps and 13 goals during her career. Born on 10 June 1989 in Chesterfield, she made her senior England debut in 2013 and became a respected figure in the sport for her dedication and work ethic. Watton represented England at two Commonwealth Games, contributing to a silver medal at Glasgow 2014 and a bronze medal at Gold Coast 2018. She was named a reserve for the Great Britain women's hockey squad at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where the team won gold, and later played in the 2018 World Cup as her final major international tournament. She retired from international hockey in September 2018 to pursue a career in education, taking up a position as a PE teacher at Rugby School. Throughout her career, Watton was praised by captains and performance directors for her talent, eye for goal, professionalism, and resilience in overcoming challenges to secure her place in elite teams. Her contributions helped elevate England's standing in major competitions, leaving a legacy as an inspirational figure for aspiring athletes.

Early life

Birth and background

Ellie Watton, whose full name is Eleanor "Ellie" Watton, was born on 10 June 1989 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. She grew up in Ashover, Derbyshire. During her career, she was 167 cm (5 ft 6 in) tall and weighed 64 kg.

Education

Ellie Watton attended Highfields School in Matlock and Repton School in Derbyshire. She is a qualified teacher who taught physical education and coached hockey part-time at Oakham School for four years while balancing her international playing commitments. She left this role to take up her place on the Great Britain squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Club career

Youth and early clubs

Ellie Watton began her field hockey career in youth ranks with Matlock Baileans Hockey Club, participating in junior competitions, including scoring goals in the England Hockey Association’s National Trophy Final as a 13-year-old player in 2003. She later advanced to senior hockey with Cannock Hockey Club, where the club featured several emerging talents including Watton, contributing to her development as a forward.

Senior club career

Watton played for Beeston Hockey Club, where she established herself as a forward and earned selection for England. She transferred to St Albans Hockey Club, where she led scoring in the Super Sixes indoor tournament. Watton then joined Holcombe Hockey Club, which was listed as her club during this period, including around major international commitments. She has also represented Repton Hockey Club in domestic competitions such as the England Hockey Super 6s Finals.

International career

Debut and England national team

Ellie Watton made her senior debut for the England national team on 4 February 2013 against South Africa in the Investec Challenge tournament held in Cape Town. She was among eight players in line to earn their first senior caps during the competition, which also featured matches against the Netherlands and Australia. Sources confirm her debut came against the hosts South Africa in that tournament. Watton, who played primarily as a forward, represented England from 2013 until her retirement from international hockey in 2018, earning 50 caps and scoring 18 goals. During this period, she became a regular member of the squad, contributing as an attacker noted for her link-up play and eye for goal. She also occasionally represented Great Britain alongside her England commitments. Following her retirement announcement in 2018, Watton received widespread praise for her professionalism and resilience. England captain Alex Danson highlighted her immense dedication, work ethic, and ability to fight her way into every team, describing her as a role model for young athletes. Performance Director Ed Barney emphasized her work ethic, capacity to overcome adversity, and consummate professional approach that was highly regarded by teammates and staff. Watton reflected that her international career had included memorable highs and lows but left her grateful for the opportunities and friendships formed.

Great Britain national team

Great Britain national team Ellie Watton represented Great Britain in senior outdoor field hockey from 2014 to 2018, earning 27 caps and scoring 8 goals. She made her debut for Great Britain on 10 February 2014 and played her final match on 17 February 2018. She was selected for the Great Britain squad at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she was part of the team that won the gold medal in the women's hockey tournament. Watton was listed as a non-starter and did not play in any matches during the event. During her Great Britain career, she trained as a full-time athlete based at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.

Major tournaments

Ellie Watton enjoyed notable success in major international tournaments, particularly at the Commonwealth Games where she helped England secure medals on two occasions. She contributed to England's silver medal-winning campaign at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Four years later, she was part of the England side that claimed bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. She also earned a continental medal with England at the 2017 EuroHockey Nations Championship in Amsterdam, where the team finished with bronze after defeating Germany 2–0 in the third-place match. Watton further represented England at the FIH Women's World Cup in 2014 in The Hague and again in 2018 in London, playing five matches in the latter tournament where her international career concluded during the quarter-final stage. In addition to these events, Watton competed for England at the 2014 FIH Women's Champions Trophy in Mendoza and for Great Britain at the 2015 Hockey World League Finals in Rosario.

Retirement and later career

Retirement announcement

Ellie Watton announced her retirement from international hockey on 4 September 2018 at the age of 29. She ended her international career with 77 caps and 13 goals combined for England and Great Britain. The decision followed her participation in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup the previous month. Watton described her time representing her country as a privileged experience, stating: “The past five and a half years have been hugely memorable and a privileged period in my life. I feel extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to play for my country and alongside some fantastic teammates, many of which will be friends for life.” She explained her retirement by noting that her career “has been by no means plain sailing and has had both highs and lows,” leading her to “retire from international hockey to continue to pursue another passion of mine.” England captain Alex Danson paid tribute to Watton's work ethic and talent, saying: “Ellie has epitomised for me the true art of being an elite athlete. Her immense talent on the field and eye for goal has been equalled always by Ellie’s dedication and work ethic. If I was a young athlete she would be the player I looked up to. She’s fought her way into every side and has been both an incredible team mate and friend to us all.” Performance Director Ed Barney highlighted her professionalism and resilience, adding: “Her work ethic, ability to overcome adversity and operate as the consummate professional has never been underestimated by her teammates and staff at England and Great Britain Hockey.”

Teaching and coaching

Following her retirement from international hockey, Ellie Watton resumed her teaching career in August 2018, taking up a position at Rugby School. Prior to dedicating herself fully to her elite playing career, Watton had taught and coached at Oakham School until 2014. As Head of Sports Science at Rugby School, she continues to coach and inspire the next generation of hockey players.

Honours

International medals

Ellie Watton earned several team medals representing England and Great Britain in major international field hockey competitions. She was part of the Great Britain women's squad that secured the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she was included as a non-starter. Competing for England, Watton won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She added a bronze medal with England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Watton also claimed bronze with England at the 2017 EuroHockey Championship in Amsterdam.

References

  1. https://www.thehockeypaper.co.uk/articles/2018/09/04/englands-ellie-watton-retires-from-international-hockey
  2. https://teamengland.org/team-england-athletes/ellie-watton
  3. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/1100165
  4. https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/29876/10327204/team-gb-name-hockey-squads-for-summer-olympics-in-rio
  5. https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/watton-in-england-hockey-squad-for-commonwealth-games-319255
  6. https://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/a-guide-to-Highfield-2020-21-Highfields-School-Prospectus.pdf
  7. http://www.oakhamschoolsport.co.uk/pu_NewsItem.asp?ID=70&NID=16058
  8. https://matlockbaileanshc.clubbuzz.co.uk/our_heritage
  9. https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/media/news/relegation-battle-for-cannock-hc-in-vitality-women-s-conference-midlands
  10. https://www.thehockeypaper.co.uk/articles/2014/05/08/watton-and-shipperley-get-call-up-for-englands-world-cup-squad
  11. https://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/21919288.ellie-watton-leads-way-st-albans-hockey-club-finish-fifth-super-sixes/
  12. https://www.repton.org.uk/seven-reptonians-play-in-super-6-s-women-s-hockey-finals
  13. https://www.bbc.com/sport/hockey/21124384
  14. http://www.fieldhockey.com/archives/index.php/2014/13-may/132-news-09-may-2014
  15. https://fih.altiusrt.com/people/1171
  16. https://www.serco.com/uk/media-and-news/2016/bisham-abbey-national-sports-centre-welcomes-home-olympic-stars
  17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/41062854
  18. https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Rugby-School-Middle-School-Curriculum-Guide-for-Sept-2023-entry.pdf
  19. https://www.bbc.com/sport/commonwealth-games/43763325
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