I have been playing hockey for 50 years plus. Reaching the age of 70 in March 2018, I was selected to play for Scotland Senior Grand Masters. I played in all the major international competitions, the highlight being the World Cup Grand Masters in Barcelona.

This year I have been successful in being selected again for the 70's for at least five competitions. The highlight being the European Cup in Brasschaat near Antwerp in Belgium.

I consider myself very lucky to be selected this year, as I came close to losing the sight in my right eye due to a blood pressure condition. Though not 100% cured, I am able to still compete at this level at present? I want to make the most of my selection whilst I still can.

It is obviously a great honour to be selected to represent my birth country at this level and if selected again next year, I could be in the squad to go to the World Cup in Japan?

The honour of playing for country comes at a cost? We are all self funded. The various Home Nation squads get no financial assistance from their governing bodies, or the National Lottery. Unlike many of their World wide opponents!? Training trips alone cost £100 a session to get to, as sessions are in various parts of Scotland and I live in the West Midlands. I have attended 6 out of 7 so far.

I, like many of us, struggle to raise the funds needed to follow "the dream" and it may seem highly indulgent to commit to these competitions!? But when you actually achieve the dizzy heights of international selection, you will try every avenue to perform and return the faith the selectors have put in you. I had learned of this form of fundraising through other contacts in various sports, who had been successful. So hence my search for assistance.

In the photo above, I am 2nd. in from the right on the back row. The first competition is the Celtic Cup in Swansea at the end of April. We are defending Champions!

Many thanks for reading my story and your possible consideration.

Duncan Mitchell.