Bill selected to play for Scotland ...
Bill Laing, European System x Advanced Technical Support, has been selected to play hockey
for Scotland in the home Internationals during July. We caught up with Bill and asked him all
about this exciting opportu nity …..
Why were you selected?
I play in the West District Hockey Leagues, and during the course of the season I played against a team from Glasgow
that contained the current captai n of the Scotland over 45's team. He appr oached me after one of the games to see if
I would be interested in attending a selection camp in No vember 2007. I originally said no as I thought I was not good
enough to play at international level, but when I mentioned it to my daughter she re minded me that I'm always telling
her that "you do not get anywhere unless you try" - so after her nagging me for a while, I finally relented and went
along, and to my complete surprise I was selected for the squad (both over 40's & over 45's) that went down to East
Grinstead earlier this year to play in a tourney with 6 other teams, and did well enough there to make final selection for
the home internationals in July.
What game is it and where is it?
It is the home internationals on the 5th & 6th of July at Pefermill, in Edinburgh, where we'll play Ireland, Wales
and England.
Have you ever represented Scotland before in a game?
East Grinstead was my first 'cap' in Hockey, but I did win several 'caps' for Volleyball at under 16 level many
moons ago.
How long have you played hockey?
I have been a hockey player for 29 years (many broken bones & torn muscles ago). We started in the 6th Division of
the West Of Scotland league when I first started, and then won (or were promoted) in successive season all the way
through those six leagues and then leagues 5, 4, & 3 of the Scottish National league - again in successive seasons -
and only just failed to win promotion to the top league (equivalent of the premier league in football) by goal
difference. Apart from winning my first cap at the grand old age of 47 (don't tell anyone) the other main highlight of a
fun-filled career was winning the Scottish Cup in 2002, the first and only team out-with the top division to ever do so.
What club do you play with?
I play for Greenock Hockey club (and always have) for my main league season, and a lmost anyone else during the
mixed season.
Where do you practise and how often?
We currently (although it is off season at the moment) practise on the Largs pitch one evening per week, and
have club fitness training on another evening; although each player has a responsi bility to maintain their own
fitness by training outwith these times.
Do you know any of the others who will be playing?
There are a number of players selected who have played for Scotland at all levels from schoolboy up,
and one who even made the GB squad (many years ago), so fa irly exalted company, and in fact the
England team (who'll be favourites for the tourney) have a couple of ex-Olympians in their squad.
Do you have any other interesting hobbies?
Lots : I read, play chess, swim, sketch, design web-sites, play computer games, cycle and
photography.
Anything else you would like to add?
I've met many interesting people in the 29 years I've played, and been to a few
places I probably would never have seen. If I / we do well there is a
possibility that we'll receive an invite to the World Masters in Hong
Kong in 2009, but don't tell my 'hockey widow' wife as I have
yet to mention it to her :-)
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