It was a discouraging but exciting experience for Captain The Scottish team in the first IFWA World Tournament in 1975. The previous selection process, very outdated, was mainly changed because of the monumental efforts of Marie Weir, the Scottish women’s coach. The team consisted of seven senior players, and the remaining eight players with an average of four caps each, had little or no experience with international hockey. So much had to be tackled.
The entire team worked tirelessly to come together as one, and with family, friends and many members of the Scottish hockey community brought up thousands of pounds to finance training trips to Europe, in an attempt to better prepare the team for the continental playing style and referee.
Although the team was announced at the end of March, we had rested at the end of the season before we started a training weekend in Holland in April, and a similar company to Germany in June. We prepared to play seven international matches in ten days.
Isobel Flint, Anne Wilson, Anne Macleod, Elan Borrowman, Rae Nicholson (Captain), Margaret Brown, Kathleen Haldane, Marietta Craigie, Susan Macvicar
The emphasis on fitness, endurance, improvement in individual technical skills, game game, competing against different playing styles all had to be improved. We had to merge as one, both on and next to the field. By July and August we played against men, who were much stronger and faster, and also played a different style of hockey. In August we had a few days together in Craigflower, a PrEP school for boys in FIFE, where we worked on consolidating all aspects of our preparation.
We had done our best to perform on the biggest stage of our lives – to play for home support in Edinburgh.
All financed themselves, while holding full -time jobs!
Squad -members: Barbara Bell, Elan Borrowman, Margaret Brown, Marietta Craigie, Isobel Flint, Kay Francis, Elaine Graham, Kathleen Haldane, Gillian Mcintyre, Anne Macleod, Susan Macvicar, Rae Nicholson. Manager – Jennifer Cochrane
There is no greater sporting honor than representing Scotland. How proud I was as a captain and flag carrier, to have our Scottish ladies’ hockey team in Leiden during the opening ceremony of the IFWHA tournament at Meadowbank Stadium in August 1975. This was the very first Women’s World Hockey Tournament played in Scotland, and we had the privilege in the open match.
All our hard work and training were useful to us when we realized our potential and record an excellent victory, 5-0. In the next ten days we had highlights and lows, because unfortunately we were not eligible to play in the section that compete for the highest honor. After winning our first section, we lost from Argentina by one fine -target in a cross -over match. A hard pill for swallowing. We were sown tenth and our final placement was ninth. When it really mattered, we were not strong enough as a team.
However, the experience to be part of such a well -organized event was great and friendships were made that to this day as the last.
We fully enjoyed the social side of the event and I hope that today’s young players will have the opportunity to experience what the team from 1975 did.
Rae Nicholson, Scottish Captain
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