Forsyth tipped to be manager of the year
Ex-Kelburne coach is shortlisted in awards list
Scotland men’s hockey captain Chris Grassick has paid tribute to the work of head coach Derek Forsyth after a year of unprecedented success.
Scotland exceeded all expectations in 2017 by winning a major European tournament, making it back into Europe’s top tier for the first time since 2005 and competing in the World League Semi-Final for the first time.
On the back of a tremendous run of results that saw Scotland win the EuroHockey Championship II in August, Derek has been named as a finalist in the Coach/Manager of the Year category at the 2017 Sunday Mail sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards on December 7.
The Sunday Ma i l and sportscotland, the national agency for sport, are aiming to recognise the true heroes of Scottish sport at the 11th annual awards ceremony
Chris is in no doubt about the coach’s influence on Scotland’s rise up the world rankings and says he and his teammates hold Derek in the highest regard.
He said: “I rate him really highly. I think where we got to this summer in terms of our ranking and some of the teams we beat, a lot of it is down to the work him and the other staff have put in.
“Th e re’s a massive amount of respect for Derek from the players. “He is great at understanding each player and how to get the best out of them.” The Paisley coach formerly took charge at his hometown club Kelburne but is now head coach of Clydesdale Western women and was selected as assistant coach for GB at the Aslan Shah Cup in Malaysia in May. As well as making the most of his contact time with his players, Derek has run a detailed remote regime to get them peaking at the right times. Chris admits that a reduction in training time due to funding challenges has taken some time to adjust to, but says Derek has expertly managed a testing situation to keep Scotland performing at the highest level.
The skipper said of his coach: “He’s been around for quite a long time. It’s difficult for him because we have very little time together as a squad compared to some of the teams we’re competing against.
“Derek has helped to turn that into a motivation for the squad, and not an excuse.
“He’s got difficult decisions to make in terms of what we do when we are together and clearly he has been getting that right.”
The 2017 Sunday Ma i l sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards will celebrate the inspirational clubs, schools and individuals in sport on December 7, at the Doubletree by Hilton, in Glasgow. For more information please visit www. sundaymailsportsawards.co.uk