Hockey ace Nicola White claims first gold medal as England are crowned European champions

NICOLA WHITE can finally be called a golden girl of hockey after helping England be crowned European champions.

After a series of near misses – an array of silvers and bronze medals at major championships – the former Saddleworth Hockey Club member has finally got her hands on that elusive gold.

And it could not have been more dramatic as England defeated world and Olympic champions Holland after a penalty shootout in the final of the Unibet Euro Hockey Championships.

England, 2-0 down entering the final quarter of the final, produced a remarkable fightback at London’s Queen Elizabeth Park.

Nicola, who has family in Dobcross, said: “I fancied our chances when it went to the penalty shootout because our goalkeeper Maddie Hinch is really good at shootout, agile and fast.

“She is so hard to beat that I backed her 100-per-cent in the shootout.”

Of the joyous celebrations, Nicola reflected: “We were absolutely buzzing as it is something we had all worked so hard to achieve.

“And we were so overwhelmed to have done that nobody knew what to do at the end of the final.

“It was also incredible to have done it here and the crowd in London was unbelievable.”

It also meant so much more to Nicola and her team mates in view of the disappointments she had endured.

In the Euro final two years ago, Nicola and the England team were beaten on penalties by Germany and last summer England also lost a shootout, this time to Australia in the final of the Commonwealth Games tournament.

There had also been two bronze medals in the Europeans and Nicola explained: “I have been in the England and Great Britain set ups since 2009, and it is so good to get my first gold.

“It meant a lot to everybody, especially the girls who have been in the programme for 15 years and who are near to retiring.”

Nicola added that 2015 has been “incredible” with England and Great Britain unbeaten in competitive fixtures adding it bodes well for next year’s Olympic Games.

After having a break, including a holiday in Bali, Nicola will next month be returning to the Great Britain squad as preparations begin for Rio.

And the next tournament for Great Britain will be the final of the World League when the top eight countries in the world gather in Argentina in November for that event.