The Netherlands:

Twenty -five years ago, the Netherlands was the promised land for the Scottish Laurence Docherty (45), the Veldhockeyhemel where he chased his dream. He settled in Klein Zwitserland, met the love of his life there, had naturalized as a Dutchman and wore the Orange shirt at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Now he is back where it all started, as a coach of Heren 1.

With his right hand, the former midfielder of the wooden banks near the main field points to the clubhouse of Klein Zwitserland: The Black, Wooden Chalet, which seems to be picked directly from a mountain village in the Alps. It is not the most modern, but certainly the most charming clubhouse in the Tulip big league. When Docherty arrived here in 2000, it was already there and twenty -five years later it is still. “Where do you see this differently?” He says, his eyes shine a clubhouse with so much character.

Football coach Louis van Gaal said on his return to Ajax in 2003 that it had come around. The same feeling must now come over Decherty on his return to the old nest. Klein Switzerland is not only the club where he made his breakthrough as a field hockey player, but also where he found a solid ground in his private life.

I was picked up from Schiphol Airport by Hans Streeder, who was an assistant at the time. In the car he continued to talk to me in Dutch. I didn’t understand a word of it. Laurence Docherty upon his arrival in the Netherlands, in 2000

Docherty was born in Edinburgh. He played rugby as a child, but field hockey finally attracted him the most. He played 48 international matches for Scotland and stopped at the last minute in 2000 from the Olympic selection of Great Britain in 2000. Then he took the dive to the Netherlands. The day he arrived here is still etched in his memory: August 17, 2000.

‘I was picked up from Schiphol Airport by Hans Streeder, who was my assistant at the time. In the car he continued to talk to me in Dutch. I didn’t understand a word of it. Before I knew it, I was in the middle of a kind of sightseeing tour to The Hague, “says Docherty, laughing, with an accent that has lost its sharp Scottish edges over the years. Somehow you can still hear that he is not a native Dutchman, but the long, Scottish clinker sounds are now worn out.

When he thinks back to his time with Klein Switzerland (2000-2007), a smile immediately appears on his face. He talks about it as if it was his first big love: “It was fantastic. I came in a very warm bath. My teammates took me in tow from the first day. Almost all the young boys who welcomed me with open arms, spoke perfect English and taught me Dutch people. The club was swarming with children, all so sweet.”

Enthusiastic Laurence Docherty talks about his return to Klein Switzerland. Photo: Willem Vernes

He met his dream woman and had offered himself as a Dutchman

It was a different time than now. The golden years with eight national titles in a row (1977-1984) perhaps belonged to the distant past, but the Capricorns were still at the top. Coach Joost Bellaart, the architect behind five of the eight national titles, stood in his second term when Douerty arrived. Max Caldas, with whom Docherty shared an apartment, was the experienced routinier. International Taeke Taekema the dreaded penalty-canon.

‘We have reached the play -offs three times. Around 2002 we made a serious attempt to bring Teun de Nooijer to KZ. But in the end he chose to stay with Bloemendaal. If he had chosen us, we would undoubtedly have taken a serious participation. In 2005, Taeke left for Amsterdam and it slowly became less and less, “Docherty looks back. ‘You don’t even have to listen well to hear how much the fall of the club has influenced him. Klein Switzerland was relegated in 2007, the moment for DeChtty to close the book after seven years. He made the switch to Top Club Bloemendaal, with whom he won the national title in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Klein Switzerland meant more to him than just field hockey. There he laid the foundation for the rest of his life. There he met his dream woman, with whom he now has three sons, nine, six and three years old. He had naturalized himself as a Dutchman and made the switch to the Dutch national team. He reached 78 international competitions, including playing the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (fourth).

For seven years, Laurence Decherty played for Klein Switzerland (2000-2007). Photo: KNHB

It was not at all my plan to be back on the field as a coach. Yet there were a few clubs that I wanted to make an exception. KZ was at the top. Laurence Daughtty

This summer, eighteen years after he left, his old love was unexpectedly knocked on his door again. ‘It was not at all my plan to be back on the field as a coach. I coached the men of Bloemendaal for one season and stood by HBS for two years. But that is now a while ago. I was actually in the middle of another chapter of my life. Yet there were a few clubs that I wanted to make an exception. KZ was at the top.

After an eventful season with Robert Justus, who left just before the end, a new era should start under the leadership of Docherty. Last season the focus was mainly on defending. At the back, the organization was solid: with only 52 goals against, Klein Switzerland even managed less than Oranje-Rood, which ended two places higher, sixth. But offensive, with 36 goals, KZ brought too little. The best striker in Germany Marco Siltkau – In the meantime left for Bloemendaal -Was mainly on his own line of 23 meters, far away from his hunting ground: the circle. Too little, the home crowd has seen the attacking field hockey that they love at Klatteweg.

Docherty: ‘It was fine at the back. The structure was present, the similarities were clear. We will build on that basis, but we will tinker with a few things. It can be a bit more brave, I think. If we do not take risks, we will never come close to their circle. I want to see offensive field hockey, line by line. Of course, defending is still important. But the starting point is: how do we score goals? ‘

Docherty wants to see offensive field hockey as a coach. Photo: Willem Vernes

‘Other guys now have to step ahead’

The most important question is of course whether Klein Switzerland can carefully measure the top again next season. But quite a few -determining players have left: Marco Siltkau (Bloemendaal), Matthew Swann (Australia), Lucas Middendorp (Amsterdam), Albert Béltran (Australia) and Nick van Trigt (Rotterdam). Eight new faces, including Argentinian Joaquin Toscani and Germans Tom Schneider and Linus Michler, made their entrance. Also remarkable is the arrival of Jochem Bakker, who didn’t play much at Rotterdam last season.

Swann was really a special player. You don’t replace him alone. But I also look at what we have in terms of player material, “says Docherty. We have young boys who now get the chance to take steps. And there are boys with more experience who now have to step. Show leadership, take initiative. This is the time to perform. Then this might be the start of something beautiful. ‘