Scottish Hockey is mourning the death of influential coach Derek Forsyth.
Forsyth, who has died after a short illness, was an assistant of Scotland men before becoming head coach in 2012.
Against constant funding battles, he rode a tide of success with the team — notably EuroHockey II success which took Scotland to the top-tier Championships in 2019. They also became a world top 20 side in the process.
Barry Cawte, chief executive of Scottish Hockey, said: “Derek has been one of the most influential people in our sport. The scale of his impact over the years cannot be measured. His passion and determination for our organisation was unparalleled.”
The Forsyth family are steeped in Scottish Hockey. Derek’s wife, Lynn, is Scottish Hockey president and a former Scottish player. Derek’s sons, David and Alan, are also Scottish internationals.
After stepping down as men’s coach this year, Forsyth, who coached at three Commonwealth Games, became performance manager to Scottish Hockey.
Graeme Molloy wrote on Twitter: “Devastated to hear this news. My son absolutely adored being coached by Derek. Completely dedicated to helping young hockey players and had a unique way to get his point across.”
Andy Tennant, Scottish Hockey’s former head of performance, said: “So sorry to hear of Derek’s passing. A great coach and incredibly influential figure in the sport in Scotland, taken way too soon.”
