TOMMY PICKERING NAMED NEW ENGLAND FREE STYLE FEEDER TEAM MANAGER

ENGLAND legend Tommy Pickering has been named as the manager of the new Angling Trust England Free Style Feeder team on an initial three-year deal.

The South Yorkshire-based ace brings a wealth of experience at international level to the role, both as an angler and manager, having fished for the Nations team across four decades and as manager of the Ladies and Feeder squads too.

Tommy was first selected to represent his country in 1978 when he was just 23 years old and became an integral part of Dick Clegg’s plans, fishing in 15 float World Championships and winning 21 World and European medals, including individual gold in Bulgaria in 1989, across a mix of disciplines.

As a manager and coach, he led Team England Ladies at eight World Championships, bringing home eight medals while he was also instrumental in the creation of the England Feeder squad which he managed from 2011 to 2018, winning two team golds amongst a haul of 12 medals.

“Anyone who knows me knows the pride I have to wear the three lions on my shirt and when the opportunity came up for this role then I knew it was the one for me,” said Tommy. “It’s a pleasure and an honour to be named as manager.”

The Free Style Feeder World Championship differs from other international feeder events in that it features the use of Method, banjo, and pellet feeders with short hooklengths and pellet and boilie hookbaits allowed too. The competition was launched in 2021 in Hungary and was also fished last year in South Africa. England will be taking in part in for the first time this year in Valencia, Spain on November 18-19.

Tommy said: “Method feeder fishing is growing at a rapid rate across the world and this event is only going to get bigger. I’m proud to be able to take the first England team across to compete in the championships.

“It’s a venue we know from fishing the Iberian Masters so we have a head start which will stand us in good stead but it’s important that we don’t rest on our laurels and do everything in our power to win gold.”

Angling Trust Head of Competitions & Team England, Steve Fitzpatrick, was delighted with the appointment.

“It’s fair to say that Tommy Pickering is a born winner as both an angler and manager, and his record in both spheres is unmatched on the world stage,” said Steve.

“The Angling Trust is proud to have been able to appoint him as manager of the new England Free Style Feeder team and I know that his attention to details, his will to win, and passion for doing things in the ‘right way’ will create a winning mentality within the squad he selects for the event.”

Squad selection will take place at an assessment session this Spring and all anglers who wish to be part of the squad should apply now. Applicants should send their CV to [email protected] by Friday March 31, 2023.