After ten years in a Scotland shirt, together with two Commonwealth Video games appearances, Tartan Hearts vice-captain Katie Robertson has introduced her retirement from worldwide hockey.
Katie’s senior Scotland profession started and ended on the Glasgow Nationwide Hockey Centre. A memorable debut got here in a 3 match check collection in opposition to Czech Republic, the place Robertson’s first aim shortly adopted her first cap – the winner in a 2-1 victory within the second match of the collection in opposition to Eire.
Katie’s story is an enchanting considered one of resilience, comebacks, and success. As a young person, Katie was a aggressive showjumper—a part of the Nice Britain “Youngsters on Horses” group that received the European Championships in Paris in 2010.
Nonetheless, on the age of 14, a critical rotational fall in Wales left her with a damaged shoulder, collarbone, and concussion. She by no means returned to aggressive using however regards it as a blessing in disguise. Not solely did the harm encourage Katie to decide to elite sport, however it led her to group sport.
Following restoration, she discovered a brand new sporting ardour in hockey throughout PE courses at Kilgraston College, motivated by Olympian Pauline Stott MBE. Rising via the Scotland age teams all of it led to a brand new journey within the Scotland Girls’s Nationwide Staff.
Recalling her debut for Scotland, Katie mentioned, “I used to be simply so grateful to the pinnacle coach on the time, Gordon Shepherd, for giving me the chance. I made positive I took all of it in, and it was actually particular to have my household and buddies there to help me.
“I bear in mind my first aim actually clearly. It was a brief nook and the ball simply landed completely for me – it was like gradual movement. Then I simply swept it within the aim.”
28 July 2017 on the Nationwide Hockey Centre, Glasgow Inexperienced.
Scotland girls v France
Regardless of the good begin it took lacking out on a serious match, and a frank dialogue with Shepherd, earlier than Robertson emerged to being a prime athlete. “It was a turning level,” she mentioned, “Shep instructed me I’d should tackle board what I wanted to do to enhance, after which I put within the work. I put rather a lot into my health and labored actually arduous, and it was an excellent lesson for me.”
A significant match then adopted when Robertson was chosen for the Fintro Hockey World League Semi-Closing in Brussels. With matches in opposition to The Netherlands; Korea; Italy; China; and Malaysia, it was a style of the highest degree that Robertson cherished. She mentioned, “We performed in opposition to a few of the greatest groups on this planet, and that’s my inspiration to be sincere. It’s enjoying at these tournaments that all the time motivated me with one of the best groups and massive crowds.”
The EuroHockey Championship in Amsterdam shortly adopted and inside the blink of a watch the primary of two Commonwealth Video games appearances was confirmed when Robertson was chosen for Gold Coast 2018. Discovering out she was chosen was a second that Robertson will always remember. She recalled, “I bear in mind opening the e-mail. We’d had a troublesome camp in Gran Canaria and it was simply such a way of reduction once I noticed my identify on the listing. After the reduction it was pleasure and I used to be so eager to get on the market. My household was delighted. They’d been there via some robust moments so to share such a great second with them was superb – they have been straight on to e-book the flights!”
Scotland was drawn in a pool with Australia; New Zealand; Canada; and Ghana in what could be an unimaginable match. Robertson was on the rating sheet in a 5-0 win over Ghana, after which a 4-2 win over Malaysia noticed the Scots end seventh within the match.
Katie mentioned, “The village was my first expertise of a multi-sport occasion – the setup was immense. I bear in mind ready in line for porridge subsequent to Tom Daley, and getting a horrible hairdo from the hairdressers within the village, which I’m nonetheless sad about!”
Following Gold Coast it was time for Robertson to take a break. Robertson lives in a distant space and the stability between journey, coaching to be a trainer, and a world hockey participant was difficult.
Supporting Scotland as a fan at Girls’s EuroHockey Championship II in Glasgow gave Robertson the urge to restart her worldwide profession. Scotland received gold on the Glasgow Nationwide Hockey Centre and gained promotion to the highest tier of European hockey. Robertson, as soon as once more, had the bug. She mentioned, “I watched the match from the stands and simply knew it was time to return. Seeing them win was superb, and the environment was so good. It was such a great match, and it was the decider for me to return. I’m an all-in sort of individual and I used to be able to throw myself totally into it once more.”
Covid threw a spanner within the works when it got here to a comeback. Alongside the remainder of the squad, Zoom grew to become the platform for coaching classes. Robertson, nevertheless, sees it as a blessing as a result of the group had one another to maintain one another going via the pandemic.
When worldwide hockey returned Robertson wasn’t chosen for the European Championships – a blow for the Fifer. Robertson mentioned, “It was a difficult time, it felt I used to be proper again the place I began. I remembered Shep’s recommendation from the primary time this occurred and rewound myself again 5 years. I took on board every thing that was requested of me, and since I’d completed it beforehand I knew what I needed to do.”
It was on the build-up to Birmingham 2022 the place Robertson was introduced as vice-captain, a implausible private achievement and key management accountability. It meant for a unique kind of preparation for the Commonwealth Video games as one of many older and extra skilled gamers within the squad. The change in position and accountability was a driver for Robertson as the most important stage in Birmingham approached.
Australia; New Zealand; South Africa and Kenya joined Scotland in Pool B within the match the place Scotland would finally end sixth.
Robertson discovered the online in opposition to Kenya in an 11-0 victory, however the recreation that hurts was a slim defeat to New Zealand.
Katie Robertson, Scotland v Canada, 7/8/22
Picture: David McCarthy
Reflecting on Birmingham, Robertson mentioned, “The sport in opposition to New Zealand beneath the lights with a full stand was among the finest video games. To be that aggressive was sensible however I believe we deserved a draw. You play these video games the place you win 11-0 and it’s nice, however it’s the shut and aggressive ones which can be one of the best. It was a great match, we performed properly.”
Robertson had the honour of captaining Scotland at a serious worldwide match in 2023. The EuroHockey Championship in Monchengladbach noticed Katie lead out the group for matches in opposition to Germany; England and Eire in Pool B, earlier than crossover video games in opposition to Italy and Spain.
Katie mentioned, “I by no means ever anticipated to captain my nation. It was difficult however such an unimaginable honour. The spotlight for me was the final recreation in opposition to Spain. We knew it was Amy Gibson’s final recreation and she or he performed immense – we performed for Gibbo that day. It’s actually particular to be a part of these moments and to beat a group ranked above us, like Spain, was an effective way to finish a difficult match. It’s all the time so pleasing once we show what we will do.”
A 2-1 victory and a sensational show by Gibson noticed Katie captain Scotland to a final recreation win in A Division.
A call-up to the GB setup gave Robertson a chance to play for a spot on the Tokyo Olympics. Katie performed a key position in GB’s Olympic Qualifiers: after wins over Canada and Malaysia, the ultimate playoff in opposition to Eire was determined by Katie’s aim 46 seconds into the final quarter—securing GB’s place at Paris 2024.
Robertson mentioned, “The aim in opposition to Eire is the spotlight of my profession. I knew going to the Olympics was a protracted shot however being a part of the setup constructing in the direction of the Olympics was a dream come true.”
The curtain name for Robertson got here the place all of it started – the Glasgow Nationwide Hockey Centre. Though she by no means talked about it publically, Katie went into the EuroHockey Qualifiers in Glasgow figuring out it is perhaps her final. It led to triumph as Scotland received the match and booked a spot within the upcoming EuroHockey Championship.
Robertson mirrored, “I had a agency thought going into the match that it could be my final one. I made a decision to attend till I used to be assured with my determination earlier than saying it. I simply went into it figuring out I needed to get pleasure from myself, and I did. It was sensible to finish with a win, and a gold medal, again the place all of it started. I felt it was a becoming technique to finish my profession.”
Katie Robertson’s trajectory illustrates extraordinary resilience—reworking a probably career-ending harm right into a world-class sporting journey. From horses to hockey, setbacks to essential worldwide objectives, Katie was a core midfield chief for Scotland.
Robertson mentioned, “I wish to thank all my household for being with me each step of the best way, and due to all my teammates previous and current for all of the recollections and making my time within the squad so fulfilling. My thanks should additionally go to all of the employees at Scottish Hockey and sportscotland who’ve supported me over the past 10 years. Representing Scotland has been the best honour and now looks like the correct time to step away however I’ll all the time proceed to help the group and need all of them one of the best on the Europeans in August”
Congratulations to Katie Robertson from everybody at Scottish Hockey for an incredible worldwide profession.
