Neil Menzies

Last updated

Neil Menzies
Personal information
Playing position Midfield
Senior career
YearsTeam
1975–1981 Aberdeen Univ
1976-1982 Ruthrieston
1982–1984 Perthshire
1984–1998 Western Wildcats
National team
YearsTeamCapsGoals
1977– Scotland
Great Britain
Medal record
Field hockey
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Champions Trophy
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1978 Lahore Team

Neil G. Menzies is a former hockey international player and coach, who represented Scotland and Great Britain. He also coached at 13 international tournaments.

Biography

Menzies was educated at Perth Academy and studied at the University of Aberdeen [1]

He was part of the first ever Scotland U21 team in 1976. [2] Menzies played club hockey for Ruthrieston, where he became the club captain and made his Scottish debut in 1977. [1] He joined Western Wildcats Hockey Club in Glasgow and proceeded to represent Scotland at three Men's EuroHockey Championships. [1]

Menzies was part of the bronze-medal winning Great Britain team that competed at the inaugural 1978 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy, in Lahore, Pakistan [3]

He was selected for the Great Britain team for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, but subsequently did not attend due to the boycott [4] and Illness prevented Menzies from possible selection for the 1984 Summer Olympics. [5]

After turning to coaching, he helped Glasgow Western Ladies become multiple Scottish champions and claim three silver and one bronze medals in European competition from 1988 to 1991. [1]

In 2012, following a career in IT, Menzies joined Scottish Hockey on a full-time basis. [1] He then became their Talent Pathway Head Coach [1] before retiring from coaching in 2023, following a 50-year association wth the sport. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Neil Menzies retires from Scottish Hockey". Scottish Hockey. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  2. "Aberdeen players in Scottish squad" . Aberdeen Evening Expresss. 26 April 1976. Retrieved 29 July 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Gregg gets G.B. Call-up" . Belfast Telegraph. 24 October 1978. Retrieved 30 July 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Neil Menzies on short leet for Moscow Olympics" . Aberdeen Press and Journal. 20 September 1979. Retrieved 30 July 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "N.G. Menzies". Western Wildcats Hockey Club. Retrieved 30 July 2025.