University Sport Birmingham Premier League player Joey Barrington made his international debut at the European Team Squash Championships and helped the England team retain their title.

After being a regular on the professional circuit since 2002, Joey’s call up to the England squad marked his progression to international representation and the following in the illustrious footsteps of his father, six-time British Open Champion Jonah Barrington.

The Amsterdam based championships saw Barrington junior win every one of his four matches against players from Belgium, Denmark, Scotland and Germany 3-0, to help the England side to the final.

There it was left to his team mates, world no. 3 James Willstrop, Adrian Grant (no.14) and Peter Barker (no.12), to beat long-term rivals France 3-0 in a battle lasting more than four hours.

Team captain and former world No1 Lee Beachill said; "It was a great debut for Joey who has really made himself a strong member of the team and, although he's only just joined us for the first time, he's fitted in as if he's been with us for years."

As well as playing for the Premier league team, the sport and exercise sciences graduate now also returns to Birmingham to help promote his sport and mentor the latest generation of campus stars.

Fellow Premier League team member Laura Lengthorn-Massaro was also part of the England women’s squad who successfully defended their European title.

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Notes to Editors:

Further information:
Lucy Hood - PR, Media and Promotions Officer, University Sport Birmingham
tel: 0121 414 2262 / email: l.hood@bham.ac.uk