Homepage > News >
News
FIH
Calendar
Events & Results
Rules
Event Management
Photo Gallery
WorldHockey TV
Athletes
Development
Coaching
Umpires
Publications
Pitches & Equipment
Medical
Anti-Doping
Directory
Contact Us
Intranet
 
Stott and Walker win Gilmour Sports Player of the Year Awards
28 Jun 2007 08:35
 

Kelburne`s mercurial midfielder Niall Stott and En-Croute Western goalkeeper Abi Walker are the recipients of this season’s Gilmour Sports Players of the Year awards, but their trades are very different.

Stott, a member of the Great Britain team at the Athens Olympics, is one of the most exciting players ever produced by Scotland, and his unorthodox style is his trademark. On his day, Stott has been a match winner, his pace, stick skills and low centre of gravity make it very difficult for opponents to steal the ball. There is a buzz of anticipation when the Olympian is on the ball, and panic sets in immediately in the minds of the opposition.

Although not a prolific goal scorer in the Jonny Christie mould, Stott is a regular contributor to the Buddies` score sheet. In the league Stott notched up 13 goals, including a hat-trick in the 8-0 demolition of Menzieshill, and the former Dundee Wanderer claimed another three in the European play-offs. Perhaps his most telling contribution came in the Shepherd & Wedderburn Cup final against Grange.With the Paisley outfit struggling a little to dominate proceedings, and leading by a single goal at the interval, up stepped Stott with two crucial penalty corner conversions to kill off any further Edinburgh resistance.

Kelburne`s season has been little short of perfection, the league, cup and European play-offs all successfully negotiated without even the smell of dropped points, and Stott has made a very positive contribution to that record achievement.

At the other end of the pitch, Abi Walker has done her bit between the posts to drive the revival of En-Croute Western this season. Although the Titwood outfit just failed to grasp the league championship on goal difference from rivals Bonagrass Grove, Western took the Scottish Cup, won the European play-offs and successfully held their place among the elite in the European Cup Winners Cup. And manager Elaine Macara has her own thoughts, 'Certainly one of the reasons we did so well this season was the contribution of Abi Walker in goal, she gave the entire team a sense of confidence.'

The European play-offs at Peffermill was a zenith in Walker’s season, she kept a clean sheet in all three games against Kelburne, Giffnock and Grove.And it was her brilliant double stop at the top of the circle in the ultimate game against the Taysiders that turned the match, Western going on to cruise to a 4-0 victory at the end.   

Walker’s stinginess in her own circle was again evident in Western’s very successful cup run, again no goals conceded in any of the rounds, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Giffnock in the final.

Both Stott and Walker have Beijing aspirations, and if this sort of form can be sustained, then the Olympic dream may quickly become a reality.

Source: Scotland Hockey


World News
Giles Bonnet retires as coach of Belgium
IOC approves Youth Olympic Games
Scotland Senior Men on a Mission to Moscow
Euro Hockey Youth Nations 2007 Website Open For Business
USA adds Sarah Dawson to PanAm Games roster
Argentina climbs one place on World Ranking
IOC appoints Christophe Dubi as Sports Director
Argentina claim gold
Argentina join New Zealand in final
England best at Grand Masters Hockey European Cup
Blacksticks book their berth in the final
Field Hockey Canada Names Pan American Games Teams
Uruguay inaugurates new synthetic pitch
USA Names Women’s Pan American Games Team
Stott and Walker win Gilmour Sports Player of the Year Awards
 
 Latest News
Giles Bonnet retires as coach of Belgium
IOC approves Youth Olympic Games
Scotland Senior Men on a Mission to Moscow
Euro Hockey Youth Nations 2007 Website Open For Business
USA adds Sarah Dawson to PanAm Games roster
Argentina climbs one place on World Ranking
IOC appoints Christophe Dubi as Sports Director
Argentina claim gold
Argentina join New Zealand in final
England best at Grand Masters Hockey European Cup
 
© 2007 International Hockey Federation. All Rights Reserved. powered by fihockey.org