THM is delighted to announce that the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have approved funding for a collaborative PhD post to be jointly supervised by THM and the University of Wolverhampton.

The title of the research project is An Oral History of England and Team GB Women’s International Hockey Representatives, 1951-2016 and it aims to produce a collective biography of women who have represented England and GB over the last 60 years. The work will specifically look at the women who played in the 41 Wembley international matches between 1951 and 1991, the Women’s Hockey World Cups between 1974 and 2014 and as part of Team GB at the Olympic Games from 1980 to 2016. Research will include archival research as well as collected oral histories of England International players from 1951 to the 2016 Olympics and, where appropriate, their family members and the administrators, medical and coaching staff who enabled the players to travel on behalf of their national teams. This is significant because women’s work as national representatives of England and, at the Olympic Games as Team GB, used to be amateur but is now increasingly professional. This chronology evidences women’s improved specialisation as elite players and a consequent broader public recognition, as shown by the gold medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. A more detailed description of the project can be found in the "Research And Study Topics" section of THM website, here.

The academic lead for the research will be the renowned sports historian, Professor Jean Williams, formerly at De Montfort University and now based at the University of Wolverhampton. Jean brings with her the experience of many years of researching sporting heritage, particularly women’s sport and she is keen to further investigate hockey’s rich past. She commented that "This will be the first thesis of its kind on women’s hockey and it is very timely and topical with the recent success of the GB women at the Rio Olympics".

Katie Dodd, the Chair of THM Trustees commented, "The award of this significant grant is recognition of THM’s commitment to undertaking an authoritative programme of research that in time will support us being able to tell the story of the development of the world game ahead of the International Hockey Federation’s centenary in 2024".

Interviews will take place in the coming months to find a candidate for the PhD position. The grant is for a 3.5 year period starting in September 2017 with at least 6 months spent on-site at Woking supporting a range of museum activities as we dictate.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds world-class, independent researchers in a wide range of subjects: ancient history, modern dance, archaeology, digital content, philosophy, English literature, design, the creative and performing arts, and much more. This financial year the AHRC will spend approximately £98m to fund research and postgraduate training in collaboration with a number of partners. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK. For further information on the AHRC, please go to: www.ahrc.ac.uk.

For more information about the project, please contact Katie Dodd through our contact form.

The Hockey Museum has provided imagery to an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Milton Keynes. Held at in the central forum of thecentre:MK, Milton Keynes shopping centre, A New City comes to Life celebrates the stories, innovations and communities that have made Milton Keynes the vibrant city it is today.

From a hockey perspective, Milton Keynes was to become the stage for one of the more fractious occurrences in hockey’s recent history. When the Hockey Association (HA) and the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA) merged to form the English Hockey Association (EHA) in 1997, the National Hockey Stadium at Milton Keynes – which was completed just prior to the conclusion of the merger – stood as a symbol of unity between the previously disparate governing bodies. It became the offices and residence of the EHA as well as a showpiece stadium for international hockey.

Such harmony was short lived however, and in 2002 the EHA was forced to suspend operations amid significant financial difficulties. The Stadium that had previously hosted the 1997 Junior World Cup and the Women’s Qualifiers for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games would retrospectively be seen as a drain on the resources and financial resilience of English hockey. Once a source of national hockey pride, the National Hockey Stadium came to symbolise a low point for English hockey administration; a far cry from the optimism that had surrounded its construction. It ceased to be used for hockey in 2003 when it was leased to Wimbledon Football Club (now MK Dons).

The images provided by THM for the Milton Keynes exhibition reflect both sides of this story. The main image shows the Stadium in its heyday, a packed crowd enjoying a match in full swing. The two smaller images were taken shortly before its demolition. Juxtaposed against the animated match day photograph, they take on a spectral quality; devoid of people or activity, they evoke the disconsolate air and failures of the recent past.

You can learn more about the liquidation of the EHA through our oral history interviews with some of the administrators of the time. Click here.

For more information on A New City comes to Life, the anniversary exhibition in Milton Keynes, click here. It runs until 23 January.

Shane Smith, January 2017

The Hockey Museum (THM) is seeking enthusiastic and experienced people to join its Board of Trustees. Trustees will be strong advocates for the organisation, support the implementation of the Museum's vision and help to raise its profile.

We are looking to increase the number of Trustees to give the Board a more professional and proactive governance structure to help take on the growing challenges that have come with the institution's continued expansion and undoubted success.

To find out more and how to apply for one of these exciting positions, download the advert by clicking the PDF icon to the right. Applications close at noon on Monday 27 February 2017.

Katie Dodd, January 2017