'I pinch myself seeing my name on an England shirt'

Lucy Field (far right) will represent England hockey at the World Cup in October

A 41-year-old assistant head teacher said she had to pinch herself after being selected to play on the England hockey team.

Lucy Field from Brome, Suffolk, plays for the Harleston Magpies Hockey Club and works at Harleston Sancroft Academy on the border between Suffolk and Norfolk.

She has been picked to represent the England over-40s masters team at the World Cup in South Africa in October.

On top of juggling her work and family, she is self-funding to ensure she makes the competition.

"I pinch myself because I can't actual believe that's my name on the back of the England shirt," Mrs Field explained.

"It's one of the most special feelings to walk out alongside a team of strong, independent, inspirational women, where we are all in a similar boat but all feeling incredibly lucky and proud to be doing what we're doing."

Mrs Field underwent trials for the World Cup team in Telford, Shropshire, earlier this year alongside 60 other women.

While she has competed for England previously, this will be her first World Cup.

She said the trials had been "intense" but there was "no feeling like it when you've worked hard for something and you've achieved it".

Mrs Field (second from left) works as an assistant headteacher when not playing hockey

The athlete said that competing at an elite level while working and raising children was "not easy".

"It's a mental struggle at times - the mum guilt and working full-time," she explained.

"But I do have an incredibly supportive family all around me who are prepared to help me make my dream happen.

"My kids are really proud of me and I'm setting a really good example to them.

"I couldn't do it without the support - that's not just my actual family it's my hockey family too, who have all pulled around me to help with the struggle and the juggle."

She added her colleagues and students had been as equally supportive.

Mrs Field is having to finance herself to take part in the tournament in South Africa and has set up a fundraiser to help.

The money will help pay for travel, accommodation, flights and physiotherapy, she explained.

'Recovery is harder'

Keeping her body in one piece has been another challenge for the athlete, which she said was harder to do in her 40s.

"Recovery is so much harder and you take it for granted, even in last five [years] I've noticed it more," she continued.

"I'm a lot better at looking after my body.

"I'm a lot more sensible with things like increased protein intake, really thinking about what I'm eating, how much I'm sleeping because it all helps."

Mrs Field said the England team was aiming to take a medal during the World Cup and the team has various competitions and training camps in the run up to the tournament.