Blog: Thoughts From Our Hockey Captain Ahead of the Aspire Cup Final

After a season full of hard work, determination and impressive growth, the squad now has the opportunity to compete for silverware in an exciting showdown between the ‘north finalist’ versus the ‘south finalist’ in a thrilling fixture.

Ahead of the final, we spoke to Team Captain, Molly (S6), about the team’s journey this season, the atmosphere within the squad, and how they’re feeling as the big day approaches.

How does it feel as captain to lead the team into the Scottish Hockey Aspire Cup final?

Coming back to Glasgow after a loss in our previous final two years ago has made me immensely proud of the team and the work we have put in to get here. I’ve seen firsthand the commitment every single player has shown, from early Saturday morning training to the intensity of our matches. So I'm looking forward to showing how we have improved from previous years.

How would you describe the team dynamic this season? What makes this group special?

The dynamic has been really positive from day one. We’ve built strong trust both on and off the pitch which has made a huge difference to our communication within the team. What makes this group special is how we support each other. Everyone plays for the team, not for themselves, and that unity has carried us through some tough matches.

How have you and the team been preparing for the final?

In the run up to the final we’ve kept standards high in training, worked on really sharpening up our decision making under pressure. While at the same time trying to keep things enjoyable and stick to our structure, trust our systems, and back each other. If we do that, we know we’ll give ourselves the best chance on finals day.

What do you think will be key to putting in a strong performance on the day?

I think the key for us will be sticking to what we’ve worked on all season and trusting each other. If we play as a unit and work hard from the first quarter and carry it on throughout the whole game, that will put us in a good position.

What are you personally most looking forward to about playing in the final?

As it's my last year playing for Albyn I’d say I'm most looking forward to just sharing the moment with the team. We’ve put a lot of work in to get to this point, so walking out together for a final is really special. 

How do you manage nerves and keep the team focused before big matches?

As a team, we try to  keep things simple before big matches. We remind each other of our roles, stick to our routines, and keep communication positive. Staying calm helps turn nerves into energy we can use on the pitch to make sure we have a strong start to the game. 

Regardless of the result, what will you be taking away from this experience? 

No matter what happens, this experience is something we’ll all learn from. I'll take away how much this group has grown together. We’ve worked really hard for each other all season and getting to a final reflects that.  

The Scottish Hockey Senior Aspire Cup Final takes place on Friday 13 March in Glasgow, and the whole Albyn community wishes them the very best of luck!