Men’s hockey – daunting challenge for Scots

Edinburgh-based coach Neil Allan believes the Euro Hockey League (EHL) Finals draw from April 17 to 22 in Holland is a daunting challenge for his squad at Grove Menzieshill.

The Scottish play-off champions, will play Dutch-based AH & BC Amsterdam, runners-up in the Netherlands last season and making a return to the EHL.

The draw was made live on Facebook from the home of HC Oranje-Rood who beat Scottish Division One champions Grange 6-0 in the first round in Barcelona to qualify.

AH & BC are one of the largest and most successful hockey clubs in Holland with 2,300 members and a 124-year history.

The club, which is the oldest in the Netherlands and the European mainland, has won 21 national titles, more than any other in Holland.

Allan added: “Let’s face it, they have some of the best players in the world and they are full professionals. We have 15-year-old schoolboys, joiners and doctors in the squad but, in saying that, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to test themselves against world-class players.”

English club Surbiton have Edinburgh-born Scotland captain Chris Grassick, a former Inverleith player, in their ranks along with his international team-mate Alan Forsyth. Both are Great Britain players.

Erik Tuijt, the EHL chairman, confirmed that in the future there would only be 20 teams in the event from 2019/20 season, cut from 24.

And the event will be played over two weekends, one in October and the final at Easter.

There will also be a women’s event with clubs currently in the European Club Cup qualifying for a knockout tournament at Easter. Long-term there will also be qualifiers like the men.