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Match Fishing and Pole Fishing Group Editor, Jon Arthur, picks his England Float and Feeder teams.

It doesn't matter if it's football, cricket or tiddlywinks, everyone has an opinion when it comes to picking a team to represent your nation. After all, slagging people off and praising others is almost a National obsession! Picking a World Championship squad of anglers that are fit to represent England is no different. Obviously, the manager has the last say and probably knows a whole lot more than you or I but, for what it's worth, here are my seven-man squads for both the Float and Feeder teams. I have had to leave many big names out and included a few controversial ones to get you talking. The more you think about it, the harder it gets to narrow a selection down to just a seven-man squad, but here goes. I will no doubt completely change my mind this time next week!

Drennan Team England Float Team

Sean Ashby

The reigning World Champ, so how could anyone possibly leave this man out? After a couple of setbacks on the international stage he has bounced back in style and proven why he is unquestionably one of the very best fish catchers in the world. Cool and calm under pressure, Sean is one of those anglers that doesn't appear to be doing anything special or radical whenever you watch him fish – he just gets the fundamentals bang on, gets his head down, rhythmically catches and makes it look oh so easy!

Alan Scotthorne

You don't win as many gold medals as this man by luck! Alan is a fishing machine and a master of every discipline he turns his attention to. He is ultra focused and takes this sport very seriously. Alan is not just a world class angler, he is an innovator and a trend setter when it comes to tackle and techniques. Those that know him will tell you how stubborn he can be at times, but when this man gets on a method, you're all in trouble!

William Raison

Groomed from a very early age to be a future World Champion, no one was surprised to see Will finally standing on that winners' podium. A natural talent, he is well known for being able to hit on a winning method quicker than anyone else. He is also a very aggressive, attacking angler and, like Alan, a match winner, not just a safe section winner. A true all-round fishing machine on any bait, any venue and any method. Put him on fish and you simply will not beat him!

Des Shipp

So many anglers, including me, class Des as THE best angler on the domestic circuit. Des can turn up to any venue and win and never ever seems to blow out. One of the most naturally gifted anglers in the world, he has a sixth sense when it comes to feeding. Des is a real character before, during and after a match, too – a friendly joker and an unbelievable moaner in equal measures! Surely an individual gold medal for this man is just around the corner?

Stu Conroy

I have watched Stu on both the international and domestic circuit and he oozes class. This man really seems to excel when it comes to extracting quality fish. I have watched him bag up on bream on many a venue and his rod and line skills are awesome. I still remember him pummelling out big fish from a weedy River Cam in a Super League when no one else could present a rig. He lives and breathes fishing and is often the last man to leave the bank after a match! His attitude is also brilliant as he always comes across as approachable and a true professional.

Callum Dicks

A shock inclusion perhaps, but Callum is one of the new breed and already being groomed for England success. He is already part of the team in one shape or other and present at every international match. He has also shaken off the critics who have suggested that he is merely a clone of Will or Des. That is definitely no longer the case as this man can certainly think and fish for himself, as an ever increasing number of big domestic match wins has proved. Callum will at the very least be blooded at European level in the next few years, of that I have no doubt.

Lee Kerry

I have rated Lee very highly for several years now. Over the past 12 months this man has somehow got even better and, other than Grant Albutt perhaps, I honestly cannot think of a more consistent all-round performer on the domestic circuit. Lee is a very friendly, professional and intelligent angler with bags of talent. His confidence can sometimes come across as arrogance, perhaps, but surely that is the sign of a champion in the making? It will be a travesty if this man doesn't represent England one day.

Preston Innovations England Feeder Team

Steve Ringer

This man has to be top of everyone's team sheet! Already a medallist on the international stage, Steve is a fish catching machine like no other. Feeding is this man's forte and he has an uncanny knack of working things out during a match. A strong and skilful angler, Steve also somehow manages to keep an eye on everything that goes on around him without missing a bite! He is also one of the most hard working and approachable anglers in the sport today and deserves to be world champion one day.

Phil Ringer

Steve's brother and who many believe is the most naturally talented of the pair – although I personally think Steve still has the edge! Phil plays up to his reputation for being laid back and care free, whereas Steve is ultra-prepared and professional at all times. Although their personalities are so different, Phil is unquestionably gifted, both in terms of technique and his ability to get his feeding right, and he is without doubt a world class angler.

Rob Wootton

So many people wrongly label Rob as a commercial expert and don't realise the amount of time he puts in on natural venues. He is a top all-rounder and won more than his fair share of silverware on the feeder. He is also a tactician and the most analytical person I have ever fished with. Quiet and cool under pressure he often gives off a laid-back attitude, but beneath that is a unquenchable desire to win! Perhaps not having fished for a big-name team is the only thing holding Rob back.

Adam Wakelin

Although he can act the clown at times, when you get past that thin exterior you'll see that Adam is also an extremely dedicated angler and talks very intelligently about the art of catching fish. He has an immense talent for catching on a variety of methods, not just the feeder, and has a lot of drive when it comes to winning. He is also regularly praised for his dedication and preparation off the bank and you can tell that this man will always work hard as a team player.

Dean Barlow

Everyone likes Dean. He is such a warm hearted bloke that it's easy to forget how good he is at fishing as well! Growing up on the Trent with his late and great father, Frank, and being a member of the mighty Essex County squad has given him an amazing pedigree. He is perhaps underrated by those that don't know him, but I know from talking to Steve Ringer how well this man has already performed and impressed on the international stage.

Ian Didcote

This is my controversial inclusion! Gary Miller and Tommy Hiller were both on my wildcard shortlist, too, but Ian gets my vote for his aggression and determination to win. I haven't seen a method that this man hasn't won on and he's a man you never ever want to draw next to. I doubt his face fits in the current England setup – or whether he is even interested in a place – but this man is confident and talented and could walk into any team.

Tommy Pickering

You cannot pick an England feeder team without including Tommy! No one has put in as many hours into feeder fishing as he has over the last few years. When everyone else is fishing the pole, he'll be on the feeder – and he'll usually win too! He takes his fishing seriously and wears his heart on his sleeve. I have never met anyone with as much desire or passion to win. England through and through, Tommy could easily be the first man to win gold in both the Feeder and Float world championships!

Omissions

To narrow it down to seven per team, I have obviously had to make some big omissions from each squad. Steve Gardener is the biggest one in the Float team. He is arguably better than at least two or three of those I named and his international record is still impeccable but I don't see him on the domestic circuit as much as I would like as he, perhaps quite rightly, puts all of his focus on the international calendar. I have also tried to look to the future as sooner or later, some young blood will have to be drafted in. Then of course there's former European champ Steve Hemmingray and other top names I rate such as Darren Cox and Simon Willsmore. Hadrian Whittle is another great international-style angler and I also think someone like Michael Buchwalder is England class IF he had the time and money to commit to it.

On the Feeder side there's a whole list of names and wannabes I have missed out that all want a shot at it. I have already mentioned Tommy Hiller and Gary Miller, but there's also of course Hemmingray and Cox, plus all those names already selected for the friendly A, B and C teams this year, including my work colleague Alex Bones. I rate Adam Rooney as a top feeder angler and Andy Kinder catches a lot of fish on the feeder. Simon Fry has caught plenty this season too. Ed Warren has put a lot of effort into trying to break into the squad and I am sure Grant Albutt will be a major force to be reckoned with if he fishes more feeder-dominated events. Andy Findlay would be awesome if you could drag him away from commercials. Some of the big names that plunder Dutch and Irish festivals are all worthy contenders too. If anything, the feeder team is so much harder to pick as the competition is still in its infancy.

It perhaps goes without saying, that Des, Will, Alan and practically ALL the Float team I have named would be unbelievably good Feeder team men too!

Agree with Jon's selections? Tell us what YOU think at [email protected]