These web pages are designed to aid players and supporters of Scotland Men's Lacrosse.

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.

Inaugural game, 1991.

Played against an England Select team (U. 19) in Dumfries.

Squad

(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

World Cup 1994 – Manchester England

Squad

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

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 3^rd/4^th place play-off, lost to Wales.

European Championships 1996 – Germany, Dusseldorf

Squad

Coach: Lee Wilkinson

Lost to England

Came third, beating Wales into 4^th in the bronze-medal play-off.

European Championships 1997 – Sweden, Stockholm

Squad

Lost to Germany, first in round robin, then in 5^th/6^th play-off.

A number of injuries, including Roger ball (neck).

World Cup 1998 – Baltimore, USA

Squad

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 7^th/8^th play-off

European Championships 1999 – Manchester, England

Squad

Head coach: Phil Collier, Assistant coach: Dave Hallows

Beat Czech Republic in 3^rd/4^th place match.

European Championships 2000 – Glasgow

 Squad