Perth hockey player Alison MacFarlane wins European Cup gold with Scotland Masters team in Spain

She returned from the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona with a cherished medal.

Now, more than 30 years on, Perth hockey player Alison MacFarlane (Ramsay) has penned the latest success story in a career which continues to impress.

And it was again in the soaring Spanish heat where celebratory scenes were the order of the day – along with a few well-earned refreshments.

Alison is not long back from winning gold with Scotland’s over-60s squad at the European Cup in the picturesque city of Valencia.

“I have been involved in Masters hockey since it started on a very small scale about 12 years ago,” explained Alison, who went to two Olympic Games and won a record number of international caps (257).

“Initially Scotland only had one team, over-45s, and we played against England where we were regularly beaten. However, the numbers of players going forward for trials gradually increased and competition became greater to be selected and now we have teams competing for Scotland at every five year age level from over-35s to over-65s.”

The European Cup was certainly not devoid of camaraderie, skill and drama as the Scots navigated through to the final for a showdown with highly-fancied England.

“The European Cup ran from July 16-23 and, during that period, we played four section games,” Alison told the PA this week.

“We won three (3-0 versus Ireland, 7-0 versus Belgium and 5-0 versus England B), and one we drew 2-2 against Wales.

“This put us into the final against the winner of the other section which was, almost inevitably, England.

“England had never been beaten in the over-60s age group. They beat Scotland 60s by double figures two years ago and last year 5-0.

“The current team had, however, held them to a scoreless draw earlier