Scottish goalkeeper Alistair McGregor has been named by Great Britain Hockey as its Athlete of the Year for 2008.

The award is presented to the member of the Great Britain Olympic team deemed to have been the top performing athlete of the year.

McGregor began his goalkeeping career at home in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, after initially beginning his hockey life as an out-field player.  After he refused to pass to his teammates Ali’s coach gave him a choice; sit out of practice or put on the pads. 

Thankfully the young McGregor chose the pads and has not looked back since, working his way up through the Scotland ranks at all age groups before making his senior debut against India in 2001.  He currently has 82 caps for Scotland.

The 27-year-old PE teacher first appeared for Great Britain as a half time substitute against the Netherlands on 23rd October 2007 as GB went down 3-1 in Eindhoven.  

After helping GB secure Olympic Qualification at the qualifying tournament in Chile in March, McGregor’s World Class performances in Beijing helped Great Britain to their best Olympic finish since winning Gold in 1988, with only Germany, Spain and the Netherlands conceding fewer goals in the Pool stages.

Speaking about what it means to be only the third recipient of the award, Ali was quick to praise the contribution of his Great Britain teammates:  “Obviously it is a massive honour to be named GB Athlete of the Year,” he said.  “It’s a great privilege but I certainly don’t play for individual rewards.  This is a credit to the entire team and the way we have played this year.”

“I think the fact that I’m the first male recipient just goes to show how well the guys performed in Beijing and is testament to the success we achieved in finishing fifth.”

Great Britain Men’s Coach Jason Lee echoed McGregor’s comments: “The team certainly played above the expectations of most of the World this year, and to my mind that was predominantly because of the combination of good ability and exceptional commitment from the group.  None of the players exemplified this more than Ali McGregor.  Having watched him closely over the last few years, he has made numerous match changing saves for Scotland and Great Britain.”

In just a year, McGregor has been capped 29 times for Great Britain and he will be hoping to add to his collection with London 2012 already looming large on the horizon.

“Moving forward, hockey has received a massive boost from the men and women’s accomplishments at the Olympics.  The medal success of Team GB has provided a massive lift for the nation but it will be a tough next four years for athletes with dreams of competing in London.

“People don’t see the effort that goes into preparing for a tournament like the Olympics; the early mornings and the gruelling training commitments.  It is every athlete’s dream to compete at an Olympic Games in their own country but it will be a long road to reach that destination.”

After the intensity of the past year, Great Britain’s Athlete of the Year is taking some time away from club commitments and is putting his Beijing experience to good use; “I’ve been doing a lot of coaching since I got back.  When I was younger I would have loved to have been able to receive coaching from a current international.  I’m keen to give something back.”

McGregor will return to domestic action with his club, Loughborough Students, after Christmas in preparation for Scotland’s EuroHockey Nations Trophy campaign next summer.

Alistair McGregor’s Profile

Date of Birth: 11 June 1981

Place of Birth: Aberdeen

Current Club: Loughborough Students

Former Clubs: Aberdeen Asset Management; Gordonians; Motherwell; Edinburgh University; Ellon Gordon

Current Caps: Scotland – 82 GB - 29

Shirt No: 1

Education Details Ellon Academy; Edinburgh University - BEd 

Occupation: PE Teacher

Why Hockey? When Ali was younger a new hockey pitch was built across the road from his house.  A family friend started Ellon Gordon HC so he and his Dad joined.

Senior International Debut: (Scotland) v India, 2001, (Great Britain) v Netherlands, October 2007

International Honours: Gold: 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Santiago, Chile)
Bronze: 2007 EuroHockey Nations Trophy (Lisbon, Portugal)

Domestic Honours: EHL qualifications Loughborough

Hobbies: Golf

Nickname: McGregs

Favourite Other Hockey Player: Ian Taylor (Goalkeeper in 1988 Seoul Olympics)

Biggest Influence on Playing Career: Three people have had a significant influence on Ali’s career. Colin Gallacher & Gordon MacFarlane who were his first coaches at Ellon Gordon, and goalkeeping coach Murray Carnie.

Major Awards: 2005 Chris Moore Salver (awarded by The Hockey Writers’ Club to the Player of the Tournament in a Home Event), 2008 GB Hockey Athlete of the Year

Ambitions: Playing in the Olympics was always a major ambition.  After hockey Ali would like to focus on the teaching career in which he is quite ambitious.

Most Memorable Achievement: Securing qualification for the 2008 Olympic Games by defeating India 2-0 in the final in Santiago, Chile in March 2008.

Other Info: Ali is the only goalkeeper and Scot to have captained GB

Olympic Games: 2008: 5th (Beijing, China)

World Cups: * 13th Junior World Cup (Hobart, Australia)

European Championships 2003: 8th (Barcelona, Spain), 2005: 8th (Leipzig, Germany), 2007: 3rd European Nations Trophy (Lisbon, Portugal)