Servicewoman From Ely Meets David Beckham

A SERVICE woman from Cambridgeshire was among those who met their footballing idols as they were invited to watch the England team in training ahead of next week's clashes with Slovakia and Ukraine.

The England team invited 25 members of the Armed Forces to watch the training session on Tuesday to show their appreciation for the efforts of all the Armed Forces who have been involved in operations overseas in Iraq in Afghanistan.

The Service personnel, drawn from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, watched England boss Fabio Capello put the squad including John Terry, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney through their paces at their training ground in London Colney.

The troops were then invited back to the England team hotel where the England players were fascinated to find out more about life in the Armed Forces and their experiences of serving on operations.

Lt Alex Wright-Jones, 36 is a Senior Nursing Officer on HMS Drake in Devonport, Plymouth.

She returned in January from four months working in Kabul before taking up the role as the nurse practitioner in Camp Bastion. Born in Gosport her family now lives in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

A Pompey fan since she was "knee-high to a grasshopper" Alex was looking out for the "hands of God" David James and when they met up with the team after the training session her wish came true.

"It is just amazing to be here" she said "I am impressed by how focused they all seem to be". She will be returning home this weekend to watch the game in Ely with her parents, sister and her sister's four children telling three jealous nephews and her niece about the day she met the entire England squad.

England Captain John Terry said:

"We have so much respect for these men and women that are fighting for their country."

"Over the last few years we have seen them get the recognition they deserve and it's great that we can play a part in that."

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