Fiona Semple retires from international hockey

Fiona Semple has announced her retirement from international hockey after 61 caps and 12 goals for Scotland. Semple played for Scotland in two EuroHockey ‘A’ Division Championships, the World Series Finals in 2019, and was part of the 2019 EuroHockey Championship II gold medal winning side in Glasgow.

Fiona is now taking on a new challenge as head coach of GHK. Having coached for a long time the new opportunity came at the right time for Fiona. Fiona is also starting a new role in September as Athlete Support Manager for the British Athletes Commission.

Semple said, “I’m happy with the decision, it’s the right time. It feels like the right juncture to step away from international hockey and spend more time with my family and focus on coaching.”

Fiona burst onto the international scene with a bang in October 2014 scoring on her debut with her first touch. The debut goal came against Germany, in Germany, and was a first time slap into the right corner.

Semple recalled, “I’d been working hard and hoping for a call up to the squad, and when the call came I was so excited for the chance to play for my country. I want to thank Gordon Shepherd for giving me the chance for that first experience, and it was great to get off to a good start.

“It was a strong squad to be joining. I remember there were players like Nikki Kidd; Leigh Fawcett and Aileen Davis in the squad at that time. Also some of my friends from the age groups, and my club, were around the squad that time too. People like Susan McGilveray, Bex Condie and Ali Howie were there and helped me settle into the squad. Jenny Eadie also started at a similar time to me and we built a great friendship in the squad. Jenny is one of my closest friends to this day.”

It proved to be a busy year for Semple with test series’ against Wales; Czech Rep; and Ireland in Glasgow; Spain and Germany in Hamburg; and against Spain in Madrid. Semple contributed her share of goals during this time as well.

Then came Fiona’s first taste of a major tournament at the EuroHockey Championships 2015 in London at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Scotland finished the tournament in sixth place to retain their status in the top tier of European hockey. Semple explained, “It was an incredible experience in London, I remember being really nervous but excited. We played England in the first game and ran them really close – Kaz Cuthbert scored a great goal from a corner we worked hard on. We stayed in A Division, which was brilliant. It was a great tournament.”

In 2019 Semple was selected for two major tournaments. The first was the FIH Women’s Series Finals in Banbridge and Semple bagged three goals on Scotland’s journey to a fifth place finish.

Then the Glasgow National Hockey Centre played host to Scotland’s gold medal winning performance at EuroHockey Championship II. Scotland won the tournament with a 100% record and gained promotion back to the top tier of European hockey.

“I’ll never forget the home support during the Euros in 2019. This was probably the happiest time for me playing for Scotland. I have a lot of great memories from this time and actually a lot of the best memories are nothing to do with hockey, it was a great squad to be part of and I loved playing under Jen Wilson who was the coach at the time.”

Head coach of the Scotland women’s team, Chris Duncan, paid tribute to Fiona’s international career and said, “Fiona has been a wonderful servant to Scottish Hockey over the years, and has always given her absolute best in every moment, shown outstanding and unwavering commitment, and been willing to step up and be adaptable when situations have required it.

“Fiona should be immensely proud of her achievements and of each and every memory that has come with it. To play in numerous European Championships against some of the world’s top teams is an accolade that is reserved for a select few in our nation, and is an incredible achievement. I know Fiona will have success in her coaching career and look forward to seeing that development.”

Fiona has had great support from family and friends down the years, and paid tribute to those who helped her progress in a Scotland shirt. Semple said, “I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the coaches I’ve worked with throughout my career. A massive thanks to my family, particularly my wife Catriona, and parents, and all my friends, who have given me such great support down the years.”

A huge congratulations from all at Scottish Hockey to Fiona Semple on a fantastic Scotland career.

 

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