The Angling Trust has confirmed a major change at the helm of the Ringers England Freestyle Method Feeder team, with Grantham’s Mark Morris stepping up as manager. He succeeds legendary figure Tommy Pickering and will now take charge of guiding the squad onto the next stage of its journey.
Morris is no stranger to the international match fishing scene. Over the past four years he has worked alongside Nigel Franks as Assistant Manager of the England Masters Feeder team while also serving in the backroom staff for Tommy Pickering. His domestic credentials are equally strong, with spells captaining Division One National teams, contesting Feeder Nationals and even competing in RiverFest finals.
Angling Trust Head of Competitions and Team England, Steve Fitzpatrick, welcomed the appointment and stressed that Morris brings authority and fresh direction:
Mark is a no-nonsense manager and isn’t afraid to make changes. He has some great ideas to take the team in a winning direction from the solid foundations built by Tommy Pickering.
Morris’s first major assignment will be the FIPSed Freestyle Method Feeder World Championships in Hungary next summer. Sponsored by Ringer Baits and Dragon Energy Drinks, the event is still in its infancy on the world calendar, having only launched four years ago, but England are determined to establish themselves as serious contenders.
Before that, Morris plans to run a series of assessment days to identify and evaluate potential squad members. Applications for those sessions will open soon via the Angling Trust Competitions Facebook page.
Reflecting on his appointment, Morris described the opportunity as both an honour and a challenge. He thanked the outgoing team led by Pickering and underlined his ambition to blend proven experience with new talent.
With his blend of leadership, tactical know-how and determination, Morris now has the chance to put England at the forefront of a growing international discipline.