Help James get to the Under 20 Lacrosse World Championships

Hi, my name is James Thompson, and I’m a 19-year-old currently studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham. I’ve been playing lacrosse since I was 12, ever since my dad took me down to our local club—and I’ve never looked back.

In 2023, I was incredibly proud to join the England Lacrosse programme, and last summer I had the honour of representing England at the U20 European Championships in Poland. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

This August, the U20 Lacrosse World Championships will take place on Jeju Island, South Korea—the pinnacle of our sport at this age group. I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been selected once again to represent my country on the world stage.

Getting to this point has taken an enormous amount of dedication, hard work, and sacrifice. Balancing university studies with an intense training schedule has been a real challenge—early morning gym sessions, long evenings on the pitch, traveling across the country for matches and camps, and giving up holidays and social events to stay focused on my goal. But every minute has been worth it for the chance to wear the England jersey and compete at the highest level.

However, lacrosse in England receives very little national funding, which means players and their families must cover the bulk of the costs themselves. This includes travel, accommodation, food, kit, coaching, and other expenses.

The total cost for each player is expected to be £4,500, which is why I’m reaching out for your support.

Any donation, no matter how small, would be deeply appreciated. Your support would make a huge difference in helping me seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in a World Championship—and to proudly represent England on the world stage.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for any help you can offer.

James