Hockey: European Championships won't be plain sailing for star Fiona

Capital school pupil Fiona Plain is looking forward to testing herself against the best indoor hockey players Europe has to offer over the next few days.

The 17-year-old, who is a pupil at George Heriot's, has been selected in the Scotland squad for the under-21 indoor European Championships in Stirling taking place from tomorrow until Sunday.

To get into the 12-strong squad is quite an achievement for one so young and Plain cannot wait to play - starting with pool matches against Russia and Portugal tomorrow.

She said: "I'm thrilled to be included in the team. I was certainly a bit surprised to get picked mainly because the other girls were all older than me but I guess in the end, we all had the same chance of making it and I just really appreciate being given the opportunity to experience playing in such a big tournament.

"I feel like I've achieved a lot in getting into the squad so I want to go to Euros, give it 100 per cent, and learn as much as I can from some of the best players in Europe.

"I don't feel that being younger brings any extra pressure, we all have our role in the team and I think that helps to make sure there's no pressure on anyone."

As well as playing for the school, Plain regularly turns out for top club side CALA Edinburgh in the indoor league and that has helped her adapt her game to playing as a striker in that form of the sport.

"Indoor is a much faster game than outdoor, making it more intense and I would say at times more exciting to watch. Your touch needs to be spot-on all the time and given the smaller pitch you have to work hard at creating space and scoring chances."

Plain took up the sport when she was ten and has also represented Scotland in triathlon, which she did up to 2009.

Last weekend, Plain skippered George Heriot's in the under-18 indoor national finals, eventually won by Hutchesons' Grammar, and Matthew Mallinson from the school is delighted with her achievements so far.

The head of PE said: "As a school, we are very proud of what Fiona has achieved. It is a terrific achievement to be selected for your country at any age group but for Fiona to be selected to play national under-21 level at just 17 I think is quite special.

"She, of course, is a superb hockey player and athlete, with a fantastic attitude and work ethic, which I am sure will take her a long way both on and off the hockey field.

"We are very proud of the success of the hockey at the school at all levels and we are seeing some great success at the top of the school, which is very pleasing and credit is due to the hard work of both pupils and coaching staff at all levels.

"We have some good year-groups coming through as well, so fingers crossed the success will continue."

As well as Plain, her CALA Edinburgh teammate Amy Broadie is also in the squad who in are in pool B along with Poland as well as the aforementioned Russia and Portugal. Pool A is made up of Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic and Sweden.

Scotland under-21 coach Dave Stott said: "Obviously, our immediate aim is to retain our status in the Championship I division. Indoor hockey plays an important role in the development of our youth international players, so we want to keep our place at the elite level for the next championships in 2013.

"This will help to maintain the intensity of competition for our young players to experience and take forward in the development of their hockey careers. Our under-18 players are now involved in a performance programme for indoor hockey and it will be to their benefit that they have a top-level international competition to aim for in the next two years."

Scotland under-21 women's squad: I Rosie (Bristol Firebrands), S Cowie (Granite City Wanderers), A Brodie (CALA Edinburgh), F Plain (George Heriot's/CALA Edinburgh), F Bruce, N Lowrey, M McLellan, N Skrastin, A Wilson (Milne Craig Western), H Elder (VWS Dundee Wanderers), K Hall (Grove Menzieshill), H Stafford (Bradford Wakefield).