Men’s hockey – 60th birthday bash for Edinburgh Hockey Club

One of Scotland’s most decorated field hockey clubs celebrates its 60th birthday on Friday.

Edinburgh Civil Service, now known as Edinburgh Hockey Club, will have over 80 guests at a special dinner.

They include Alan Stobbie who is jetting in from Melbourne, Australia, where he works and coaches hockey, to be at the event at the Apex Waterloo in the centre of Edinburgh.

Also set to attend are David Coventry and Chris Sutherland, one of Scotland’s greatest ever hockey exports.

Sutherland, who played more that 160 internationals for Scotland and Great Britain, and on 11 occasions for Europe, also coached Dutch side Klein Zwitserland to the Dutch title.

Former player Gordon Grassick, father of Chris Grassick, the current Scotland captain, will also attend along with goalkeepers Maurice Wilson and Stuart Smith who both collected around 80 caps for their country.

George Guy, one of the organisers, said that Stobbie was travelling further than anybody else to attend.

And he added: “Civil Service won nine Division One titles domestically and they also won in Europe.

“Alan Stobbie, David Coventry and Chris Sutherland were three of the best-known names in the team.

“The trio were among seven Leith Academy pupils who were in the team at one time and the irony is that Leith Academy was not famed for hockey.

“Chris (Sutherland), who is now managing director of Aratac, a hockey equipment and clothing firm, was one of the greatest hockey exports from Scotland.

“It will be an informal night but one of real nostalgia and there will be a presentation on the history of the club.”