Stoneham’s Alan Mew has been rewarded for another fine season with a first-ever call-up to the England seniors team.

The 61-year-old is part of the squad that will compete in next week’s European Team Championships, as well as the Home Internationals later in September.

Mew (pictured) said: “You can’t be anything but pleased. Last year, after finishing fourth in the British, I got a ‘well done, but not quite the cigar’ from Richard Palmer, the England manager, and I wrote back to him saying I would love to play one round of golf for England before I die, and now I have achieved that.

“I can hardly wait to play.”

Mew has enjoyed an incredibly distinguished career on the amateur circuit in Hampshire, winning all of the major titles and becoming the first ever player to win the county Seniors, Mid Amateur, Men’s Amateur and Courage stroke play crowns.

This year, he has had a great deal of success on a national level.

Mew came second in both the Irish and Scottish Seniors Open championships, while finishing eighth in the European Seniors, tenth in the Welsh and 15th in the British.

“I’ve worked hard on my game,” he said. “I’ve done more practice this year, and played more, than I have done in the last five years.”

The European Team Championships will take place at the Sierra Golf Club, in Poland, from September 2-6.

England are searching for their first win in the competition since 2010.

The Home Internationals, for which England are the defending champions, will take place from September 16-18 at North Berwick Golf Club, in Scotland.