LACROSSE IN SCOTLAND > History > Men’s History
A NEW BEGINNING
Prior to the Lockerbie air disaster in December 1988, the men’s game had not been represented in Scotland since the turn of the century. The tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103 saw many Syracuse University students perish and on a memorial visit one year later the University’s lacrosse team were surprised they couldn’t play against the Scotland Men’s National Team. We were challenged to pull together an inaugural and bona fide team; this was achieved some eight months later and following the 1990 World Championships the men’s team played their first representative match. We have now played memorial games against Syracuse during visits to Lockerbie to pay their respects to those lost in the air disaster, and hope this fixture will continue into the future.
The 1994 World Series was a tremendous showcase for the sport and an opportunity for Scotland to make it’s name on the World stage. We want people in Scotland to hear more about this fine sport and inspire greater grass roots participation through the existing British Lacrosse Development Program. The development game, Pop Lacrosse, a mixed sport played in schools is growing at an impressive rate. During 1997/8 Pop Lacrosse was introduced to nearly 100 schools in the Fife, Lothian, SW Region, Perthshire, Tayside, Central and Strathclyde areas. The numbers of players coached was in excess of 10,000 and the number of PE teachers educated in coaching was nearly 250.
Since that time Scotland have been represented at every European and World Championships held. Scotland have ranked 3rd in Europe and 7th in the World Championships.
SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL DRESS, TARTAN – HISTORY
The true origins of the Tartan are more than likely lost in the mists of time and a search on the Web can bring up more opinions than facts but what can be agreed by most people is that the popular Tartan only truly appeared, widespread, by the 16th Century.
By the mid-1600s district patterns started to crop up; although, this may have occurred more because of the local weaver than anything else. Dye was expensive and labor intensive. A weaver may have a large quantity of red and blue dye in stock "and if ye want green its gonna cost ya extra". So, a whole lot of red and blue tartan could be seen in one area or another.
After the Jacobites (Loyalists to the Scottish crown that was usurped in 1688) rebelled at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the English banned the wearing of all tartan. This ban was repealed in 1782 and the Scots had a widespread hope to re-establish the identity of Scotsmen as Scotsman (not English or British). They were helped out by Sir Walter Scot in the early 1820s, as well as King George IV, who threw great parties where no one was admitted unless in "true highland dress".
Each clan chief was expected to identify and validate a pattern for their clan. With this, the concept of the "clan" tartan was strongly set in place. Queen Victoria, who had a great liking for all things Scottish, only encouraged it all. It soon became a matter of pride to have a tartan all of one’s own.
The tartan, therefore, proceeded to become the National dress of Scotland.
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Inaugural game, 1991.
Played against an England Select team (U. 19) in Dumfries.
Squad
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John Marr |
Rav Sathi |
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Rob Mitchell |
Paul Clarke |
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Rob Powell |
Mark Hodkin |
Martin Clarke |
Jamie Symington |
(Giles Davidson played in the opposition (England U.19)
Scotland v Wales
Game played in Ebbw Vale, as part of a festival. Ladies and junior teams also played.
Squad
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John Marr |
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Rob Mitchell |
Paul Clarke |
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Rob Powell |
Simon Ball |
Martin Clarke |
Howard Inchbold-stevens |
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Jamie Symington |
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World Cup 1994 – Manchester England
Squad
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John Marr |
Tony Thomas |
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Giles Davidson |
Peter Davidson |
Tony Hall |
Rob Mitchell |
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Paul Skarratt |
John Wolfenden |
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Tom Bachofner |
Bob Bora |
Paul Clarke |
Angus Chapman |
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Ian Davidson |
Alistair Hodgson |
Danny Hodgson |
Tom Kennedy |
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Phil Moore |
Robert Muirhead |
Rob Powell |
Graeme Simpson |
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Cliff Anderson |
Simon Ball |
Martin Clarke |
Andy Bickerton |
Head coach: Graham Simpson
Wales Lost
(First game, went to sudden-death overtime. May still be the longest match in international history)
Sweden Won
Czech R. Won
Germany Won
In the final, we faced Wales again, this time turning out the victors by 13-6?
(4-0, 4-0, 3-3, ?-3). Own goal by John Clayton.
Inaugral European Championships 1995 – Prague & Pilsen
Squad
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John Marr |
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Phil Barton |
Giles Davidson |
Rob Powell |
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Phil Moore |
Brett Graf |
Colin Hogg |
Quintin Davidson |
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John Kim |
Ollie Finlay |
Colin Muir |
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John Robinson |
Simon Ball |
Phil Barton (the Navigator), Giles Davidson (Geronimo)
Scotland v Germany Won 8-2
Scotland v England Lost by a fair few – played in a boiling hot cauldron of a pitch in Pilsen
Played Sweden or Germany we played first? Won, anyway.
England (in Pilsen), lost.
In 3rd/4th place play-off, lost to Wales.
European Championships 1996 – Germany, Dusseldorf
Squad
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John Marr |
Adrian Anderson |
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Paul Skarratt |
Phil Barton |
Jim Bowyer |
Giles Davidson |
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Ollie Finlay |
Quinton Davidson |
Peter Davidson |
Brett Graff |
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Rob Powell |
Ali Hodgson |
Howard Inchbold-stevens |
Phil Moore |
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Ian Young |
Cliff Anderson |
Andy Bickerton |
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John Robinson |
Roger Ball |
Martin Clarke |
Coach: Lee Wilkinson
Lost to England
Came third, beating Wales into 4th in the bronze-medal play-off.
European Championships 1997 – Sweden, Stockholm
Squad
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John Marr |
Adrian Anderson? |
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Rob Powell |
Jim Boyer? |
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Roger Ball |
John Metcalfe |
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John Gilchrist |
John Robinson |
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Lost to Germany, first in round robin, then in 5th/6th play-off.
A number of injuries, including Roger ball (neck).
World Cup 1998 – Baltimore, USA
Squad
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John Marr |
Adrian Anderson |
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Steve Cook |
Giles Davidson |
Paul Clarke |
Ollie Finlay |
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Stuart Knipe |
Frank Nicholas |
Andy Mitchell |
Rob Powell |
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Zac Aitken |
Roger Ball |
Dan Godfrey |
Dan Heighway |
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Brett Graf |
Mark Hodkin |
Alistair Hodgson |
Phil Moore |
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John Newall |
Jamie Symington |
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Andy Bickerton |
Pat Cunningham |
Martin Clarke |
Neil Doddridge |
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Rory Marshall |
John Robinson |
Head coach: Phil Collier
Assistant coach: Lee Wilkinson
Travelling reserve: Chris More. Assistant Manager: Alistair McIver. Statistician: Eoin Murray.
Lost to Japan in first game. Pat injured his ankle, and didn’t play again in the tournament
Lost to Germany, beat Wales (14-9), Sweden and Czech R.
Play-in matches – lost to England – but what a match…
Beat Japan in 7th/8th play-off
European Championships 1999 – Manchester, England
Squad
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John Marr |
Dan Worthington |
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Paul Clarke |
Steve Cook |
Rob Powell |
Giles Davidson |
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Frank Nicholas |
Lee Houston |
Oliver Finlay |
Rob Mitchell |
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Pat Donaghy |
Gerry Donaghy |
Dan Godfrey |
Dan Heighway |
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Phil Moore |
Jeff Hobbs |
Chris More |
Alistair Hodgson?x |
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Zac Aitken |
Pat Cunningham |
Martin Clarke |
Rory Marshall |
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Nick More |
Andy Bickerton?x |
Head coach: Phil Collier, Assistant coach: Dave Hallows
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· July 25th |
Scotland vs Sweden (11-8) |
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· July 26th |
Scotland vs Wales (8-6) |
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· July 27th |
Scotland vs England (5-17) |
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· July 28th |
Scotland vs Germany (5-6) |
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· July 29th |
Scotland vs Czech Republic (13-6) |
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· July 30th |
Rest Day |
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· July 31st |
Finals Day |
Beat Czech Republic in 3rd/4th place match.
European Championships 2000 – Glasgow
Squad
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Ethan Harris |
John Marr |
Dan Worthington |
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Giles Davidson |
Frank Nicholas |
Ollie Finlay |
Rob Mitchell |
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Lee Houston |
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Ian Cassidy |
Pat Donaghy |
Gerry Donaghy |
Dan Heighway |
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Jeff Hobbs |
Chris More |
Rob Powell |
Eddie Sullivan |
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Pat Cunningham |
Martin Clarke |
Jeremy Hobbs |
Nick More |
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Chris Stott |
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Frank Nicholas – arrived eventually…
Rob Powell – broken collarbone against the Auld Enemy
Pat Cunningham (Captain)
Head coach: Phil Moore, Assistant coach: John Robinson
Beat Czech Republic in 3rd/4th place match.
European Championships 2001 – Wales, Penarth
Squad
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Ethan Harris |
John Marr |
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Paul Clarke |
Lee Houston |
Rob Mitchell |
Phill Reader |
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Callum Watson |
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Pat Donaghy |
Dan Heighway |
Rob Powell |
George Provenzo |
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Jonny Thompson |
Rob Wilson |
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Jeff Hobbs |
Nick More |
Rory Marshall |
Nick More |
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Scott Morris |
Chris Stott |
Head coach: John Robinson
(Giles Davidson, Chris More & Martin Clarke were named in the squad but did not play. Paul Clarke played only in the England game)
Lost to Germany
Lost to England
Beat Wales
Beat Ireland
Lost to Czech R.
In 3rd/4th playoff, lost to Czech Republic.
World Championships 2002 – Perth, Australia
Squad
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Ethan Harris |
John Marr |
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Steve Cook |
Billy Armstrong |
Rob Mitchell |
Giles Davidson |
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Lee Houston |
Carl Ellis |
Frank Nicholas |
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Gerry Donaghy |
Dan Heighway |
Kyle Arbuckle |
Chris More |
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Ian Cassidy |
Rob Wilson |
Jonny Newall |
Ali Hodgson |
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Jeremy Hobbs |
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Jeff Hobbs |
Zac Aitken |
Martin Clarke |
Merv Davies |
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Chris Stott |
Head coach: Phil Collier, Assistant coaches: John Robinson & Scott Morris
Physios: Olli Finlay
Massage Therapist: Lorna Scott
Management: Tim Hobbs, Howard Inchbold-Stevens
Stats: Rob Powell
Gillies: Tom Chambers & James Sorley
Wales won 14-7 / Czech Republic won 9-8 / Sweden won 10-5 / Japan lost 8-10 / Germany lost 9-15
- rest day -
Play-in game against England – lost 7-16
- rest day -
7th/8th playoff against Germany, won 12-11 in sudden-death overtime, the final goal from Ali Hodgson (his first of the tournament).
Final placings:
USA, Canada, Australia, Iroquois, Japan, England, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, South Korea, Wales
Indoor World Championships 2003
Beat USA in round-robin, lost to them in the 3rd/4th play-off
Title Contact Native Country
Head Coach Paul Suggate Canada, Asst Coaches T.B.A. Canada
Manager Martin Clarke, Steve Cummins, Tim Hobbs.
Physio Oli Findlay
Squad
Derek Collins John Marr Joe Bell Jr. Kyle Anderson Kyle Arbuckle
Anthony Buchanan Terry Dennett Tim Dennett Gerry Donghy Blair Ferguson
Ollie Finlay Jeff Hobbs Jeremy Hobbs Ashton McLean Stuart Neill
Frank Nicholas James Sorley Rob Wilson Rob Taylor Graham Sutherland
Darryl Gibson Dan Teat
European Championships 2004 – Czech R.
Goalkeepers
Ethan Harris (CW Post)
John Marr (Brooklands Hulmeians)
Defence
Jim Boyer (Wilmslow), Craig Brown (Glasgow), Giles Davidson (Hampstead), Lee Houston (Nottingham)
Aaron Kazeil (Victoria), Rob Mitchell (Boardman), Frank Nicholas (Sydney, New South Wales)
Midfield
Anthony Buchannan (Victoria), Stuart Craig (Wilmslow), Jerry Hobbs (Elmira)
Alex Mitchell (New York Athletic Club), James Mitchell (Hampstead), Rob Powell (Edinburgh Stars),
Bryan Riddle (St. Andrews), Mark Turpie (Ottawa), Tim Wang (Glasgow)
Attack
Kyle Anderson (Edinburgh Stars), Jeff Hobbs (Rensselaer), Nick More (Manchester Waconians)
Paul Ross (Edinburgh Stars), Chris Stott (St. Andrews)
Lost to England 2-20
Beat Czech 8-7
Beat Sweden 9-8 in OT.
Lost to Wales 7-8
Lost to Germany 3-15
Lost to Germany 5-7 in the semi-final.
Beat Sweden 12-10 in 3rd/4th play-off, finishing 3rd out of 12.
World Championships Canada 2006.
Goal – John Marr, Matt Russell
Defence – Laurie Clark, Paul Clarke, Giles Davidson, Terry Dennett, Rob Powell, Rob Mitchell
Midfield – Anthony Buchannan, Ollie Finlay, Craig Stuart, Bryan Riddell, Ben Macaskill, John Macaskill, Alex Mitchell, James Mitchell, Stuart Neill
Attack – Kyle Anderson, Naofumi Suzuki, Jeremy Hobbs, Jordan McBride, Chris Stott, Kevin Russell
Head Coach – Keith Langdale / Assistant Coach – Sam Cosacowski
Staff – Martin Clarke, Craig Brown, Lorna Powell, Wendy, Cathy Mitchell, Ryan Craig
Although having finished a disappointing 11th place the general feeling was one of a good tournament with, as usual, many new friends being made along the way. Probably the most memorable game being the overtime win against Italy in game 1.