Captain's Log
With 5 Thistles debutants, most meeting on the day or day before 1st game, the key was to gel the squad into a low common denominator of team basics, keep it simple and get better at the simple.
1st game, against Ireland B, nice curve ball, the keepers in traffic jam! So up stepped Stewie Coleshill, sorry dragged, into the 11th man new role. You learn new tricks with Thistles! Game ended 2-2 which would have been a win for Thistles apart from some dynamic defending from a Thistle in the Irish D!
After a 2-0 going on 10 thrashing of Alliance and a snore bore 0-0 with Southern Cross up came England B whom had recorded 3 previous victories of 6-0, 6-0 & 7-0....Plan was set out to throttle the threat and with National M50 level keeper, Robert Black (61) between the sticks we had some confidence that we could compete if not overcome. 2-0 to England, through quality D manship in the 1st half just rattled Thistles in a positive way and they won the 2nd half 0-1.
Then came the SF against the Ozzys again, Southern Cross. 2-2 it ended and Thistles lost the shootout 2-4 -However a memorable goal from Gary White consisted of the ball flicked up on the 23, 3D air carried to the Gk, knocked over the Gk and looped to hit the back board. All on stream!
This, however, meant a Bronze play off against Ireland. A new to tournament squad rotation was used from the outset, with the so called “stronger” players taking a back seat. After 3 minutes, the Thistles attack won a corner and was subsequently brilliantly executed by Stuart Coleshill. The match was really secured when Alan Brannen did his trademark dive to make 2-0. In the 2nd half the play was secure strong and stable for Thistles with Gary White capping a fine tournament on his return to international duty with the third goal of his 3 (plus a shootout goal). Bronze again after 2023. The feeling was aye that’ll do… but Thistles wanted and want more.
Manager's Summary
Arriving at Nottingham with a lot of new faces in the squad. Young Management team (Milky) and a Wizzard for coach (Swifty).
Game 1 vs Ireland 2-2. Gary white, Billy Chana scorers. Fielded 11 players as the keeper was held up in traffic.
Game 2 and all to play for - we needed a win and the win Thistles delivered: 2-0 against Alliance. Stuart Coleshill, Alan Brannen scorers putting us 2nd on the table behind England B
Game 3 we required at least a draw to mean us staying in the top 3. Again the squad delivered as coach and manager required delivering a 0-0 draw with Southern Cross (Auz). Placing us still in the top 2 Thistles were motivated and starting really gel as a squad.
Game 4 up against England National B team. 2-1 loss, Gary White scored. In the blistering heat Thistles took a number of minutes to settle in unfortunately England managed to put 2 past the keeper in the second quarter to which the keeper was not happy and demanding no more goals. Thistles stepped up to this challenge by not letting anymore in. Second half we came out and pulled a goal back. Some wonderful defensive hockey and attacking left the score line the same for the rest of the match. May we add we were the only team to put one past England B in the whole Euros.
Game 5 semi finals vs Southern Cross. 2-2 full time scorers Larry Payne, Gary White. Came to the shoot out (shuffles). 4-2 to Southern Cross. A disappointing result after a hard fought match
Game 6 bronze medal match. Thistles big reset - with a medal in sight we had to go out focused. From ths minute the whistle went we pressed winning a pc in the first three minutes Stuart Coleshills slotted it away. It was clear that Thistles meant business. Ireland too had a few chances to which Robert Black (GK) got behind the ball with ease. After the first qtr break it took 3 mins again for the mighty Thistles to score by means of a FG by Allan Brannen. Onto the 3rd qtr and after a number of opportunities Thistles slotted away another goal by means of a FG by Gary White seconds before the hooter was sounded. Final score 3-0 and bronze medal winners of World Masters Hockey European championship 2025.
Congratulations to all for the win and the bronze medal.
Milky
