News 2022

Enquiry  Donate

USFHA 100 dinner 00

“Honour our past. Grateful for the present. Excited for the future.”

 

On Saturday 18 June 2022, USA Field Hockey (USAFH) celebrated its centennial with a dinner at The Union League of Philadelphia. The event, postponed from earlier in the year due to the ongoing pandemic, brought generations of individuals who have contributed to and supported the game of field hockey across the United States – in America, hockey (as it is known in Britain) is referred to as field hockey to distinguish the sport from ice hockey. The USAFH centenary event also recognised the 2021 Annual Award Winners and served as the 2022 USAFH Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Pam Stuper, a former USA international player, former Yale University head coach, and current USA Field Hockey Foundation Executive Director, hosted the event.

Constance Applebee, a British woman who actively promoted the sport in the United States, played a key role in founding the United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) in 1922. Unlike most national governing bodies around the world, in the United States it was a governing body for the women’s game that preceded a governing body for men. Six years after Applebee established the USFHA, the Field Hockey Association of America formed to govern men’s field hockey in the United States. These two organizations coexisted for more than 60 years, only merging in 1993.

 

USA Constance Applebee circa 1903
 
Constance Applebee circa 1903.

 

Recently appointed Trustee of The Hockey Museum (THM) Dr Heather Dichter attended USAFH’s 100th anniversary dinner to demonstrate the continued support of British hockey to the game in the United States. Although she is an associate professor at De Montfort University in Leicester, Heather is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home of Spooky Nook (USA women’s national training centre) and numerous US Women’s National Team (USWNT) players. Heather’s guest was Savannah Graybill, who played collegiate field hockey at American University before representing USA as a skeleton athlete. They were seated with Pam Stuper, USAFH Executive Director Simon Hoskins, and USA Field Hockey Foundation Chairperson Patrick Durbin and his family.

 

USFHA 100 dinner 041      USFHA 100 dinner 031
     
Dr Heather Dichter with her guest Savannah Graybill.   USAFH Executive Director Simon Hoskins with Dr Heather Dichter.

 

The evening’s keynote speakers were 1984 Olympic bronze medalist and Pennsylvania State University head coach Charlene Morrett-Curtiss and 1996 Olympian and American University head coach Steve Jennings. Charlene focused on the development of the women’s game and Steve on the men’s game.

Charlene Morrett-Curtiss and other individuals throughout the evening emphasised Constance Applebee’s legacy of promoting and spreading the sport across the country. Hall of Fame (honorary member) inductee Barbara Longstreth spoke fondly of her interactions with ‘The Apple’, as many people called Constance Applebee. Barbara was a member of the USWNT in the 1960s and competed in the Wembley match in 1962 – a 3-3 draw in front of a crowd of 52,000. She contributed to the sport’s growth in California, later selling hockey sticks out of her car before establishing Longstreth Field Hockey, perhaps the USA’s most well-known establishment for field hockey equipment.

 

USFHA 100 dinner 05      USFHA 100 dinner 01
     
The USA Field Hockey centenary dinner was held at the Union League of Philadelphia.

 

The evening also celebrated the organisation’s contributions to the international game. The USFHA was a founding member of the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations (IFWHA) in 1927, hosting its Conference and Tournament in Philadelphia a decade later in 1936. Aaron Sher, who held numerous roles within the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF), was also inducted into USAFH’s Hall of Fame (honorary member) that evening.

The other three Hall of Fame inductees were former national team athletes Larry Amar (1972-2020), whose widow accepted his induction, Rachel Dawson, and Lauren Crandall Liska. Pan American Games gold medals in 2011 and 2015 are only two of the accolades that both Dawson and Crandall Liska have earned. The photographs and videos of past teams and international tournaments drew cheers from the audience all evening, particularly from those who saw their younger selves on screen.

Although the evening celebrated one hundred years of field hockey in the United States, many of the speakers provided encouragement for the future – of the game’s continued growth in the country as well as the national teams’ success at the international level. USAFH is excited for the next hundred years of field hockey across the United States, but also for gold medals at all levels. Perhaps on home soil at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games?

 

Re-watch the Facebook live stream of the USAFH centenary dinner: 100th Anniversary & Hall of Fame Celebration | (facebook.com)

The historical segments are:

  • 06:30-14:02 -- poem and Jennifer Shillingford history speech.
  • 01:10:46-01:32:52 -- centenary film.

 

The Hockey Museum’s Research into the History of the USAFH

Further details of the origins of the founding of the USFHA are emerging from research being undertaken by THM volunteer Dr Jo Halpin, ably supported student researcher Ana Brown. Jo has been examining archive material and scrapbooks at the Museum and in the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA) Collection at the University of Bath. These detail the numerous England and USA hockey trips across the Atlantic post World War 1. In particular, the visit of an All Philadelphia team to England in 1920 and the subsequent AEWHA tour to the USA in 1921. The links made during these early events were undoubtedly a substantial influence in the formation of the USFHA in 1922. THM, in collaboration with the USFHA and the FIH, hopes to share the full story of these tours and their impact on the development of US women’s hockey with a webinar later this year.

Read more about Ana’s volunteering experience with THM, which also explores some of the tours following the founding of the USFHA: USFHA to England (1924), AEWHA to USA (1928), USFHA to England via Copenhagen for the first IFWHA tournament (1933); AEWHA to USA for the second IFWHA tournament held in Philadpelphia (1936).

Researching The USFHA Tour To The UK In 1924 | The Hockey Museum

 

Marjorie Taylor 01
 

The United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) touring team at Edinburgh Castle in 1924.

From the Marjorie Taylor collection, The Hockey Museum.

Maureen Short’s GB honours cap awarded to the I M Marsh PE College

07 December 2022
Maureen Short’s GB honours cap awarded to the I M Marsh PE College

In October Great Britain Hockey and The Hockey Museum presented the Great Britain (GB) honours cap of Maureen Short to the college where she previously taught. The I M Marsh College of Physical Education (I M Marsh CPE), where Maureen had been a much-respected hockey lecturer for many years, is...

We have found Joe Ahmad!

24 November 2022
We have found Joe Ahmad!

Regular readers will recall that 8 months ago we made an appeal to help us find Great Britain (GB) Munich Olympian Sheikh Mahmood Ahmad, or Joe as he is known to hockey. This was so that we could present him with his GB honours cap. We made extensive enquiries around...

The Hockey Museum Acquires New Artwork Of Stanley Shoveller, The ‘Prince Of Centre Forwards’

09 November 2022
The Hockey Museum Acquires New Artwork Of Stanley Shoveller, The ‘Prince Of Centre Forwards’

The collections within The Hockey Museum (THM) cover over 25 different subject areas and they often service or contribute towards our 30 or so active study subjects. Most of the objects and material within the museum collections are donated by kind friends of hockey but occasionally we must buy items...

History at the Heart of Joint Bid to Host the 2026 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup

13 October 2022
History at the Heart of Joint Bid to Host the 2026 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup

England Hockey (EH) and Hockey Wales (HW) have submitted a joint bid to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to host the men’s Hockey World Cup in 2026. If successful, the tournament would be on the 40th anniversary of the 1986 men’s Hockey World Cup in Willesden, London – the last...

New History and Heritage Professionals Strengthen the Board

16 September 2022
New History and Heritage Professionals Strengthen the Board

The Board of Trustees is delighted to announce that three new Trustees have been appointed to help further the work of The Hockey Museum. All three have extensive professional knowledge gained from working within the museum sector or sporting academia and will be invaluable in ensuring our continued growth and...

Past Students of Bedford College of Physical Education Receive Honorary Degrees

16 September 2022
Past Students of Bedford College of Physical Education Receive Honorary Degrees

On Saturday 10 September, over 300 former students from Bedford College of Physical Education (BCPE) came together to be awarded honorary degrees from the University of Bedford. The first student to be invited to receive her degree was Hilda Moore (nee Hammond), a former England hockey player, who at 100...

Scottish GB Cap Presentations: Recognising the Tartan Contribution

15 September 2022
Scottish GB Cap Presentations: Recognising the Tartan Contribution

On the 27 August, over 40 Scottish former Great Britain (GB) players came together at Uddingston Hockey Club to be presented with their GB honours caps. Scottish Hockey, with the support of The Hockey Museum (THM), Hockey Internationals Club and GB Hockey organised this special event, which took place as...

The Death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

09 September 2022
The Death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

  The Hockey Museum mourns the passing and reflects warmly on the life of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The thoughts of our trustees, staff and volunteers are with the Royal Family, and we offer our condolences to England Hockey's patron, Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, daughter-in-law of...

Purchase The Magic of Wembley Book

09 September 2022
Purchase The Magic of Wembley Book

  Discover the inspirational history of the England women’s annual hockey match at Wembley Stadium between 1951-1991. Purchase The Magic of Wembley for only £10 plus postage (UK £3.00, Europe £7.00, rest of the world £9.00). Payment via PayPal using the email address This email address is being protected from...

Politics at the National Hockey Stadium in Pakistan

19 August 2022
Politics at the National Hockey Stadium in Pakistan

  Aerial view of the National Hockey Stadiumin Lahore, Pakistan.   Last weekend, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan held a political event at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. To accommodate the expected crowds, the former Pakistan cricket captain had the stadium's blue turf pitch removed. This...

Kwan Browne’s Incredible Gesture for the Commonwealth Games 2022

17 August 2022
Kwan Browne’s Incredible Gesture for the Commonwealth Games 2022

Prior to the Commonwealth Games (CWG) bronze medal match between England men and South Africa, South Africa coach Iain Shippey posted a story on Instagram (shown below) about England Assistant Coach Kwandwane ‘Kwan’ Browne. It is a story that embodies the values of hockey and of Kwan’s career, where he...

"Why Woking?"

22 July 2022
"Why Woking?"

“Why Woking?” is possibly the most frequently asked question by visitors to The Hockey Museum (THM) and by many people we chat to on the phone or in meetings. The simple answer is that Woking is the home of THM’s founder, President and Honorary Curator Mike Smith. The original collection...

The Jim Shepherd Collection: The Genesis of a Scottish Hockey Museum?

01 July 2022
The Jim Shepherd Collection: The Genesis of a Scottish Hockey Museum?

  Jim Shepherd (pictured) has collected a lifetime of Scottish heritage material.   Jim Shepherd, Mr Hockey from Broughty Ferry, Dundee: player, umpire, administrator, journalist, broadcaster and hockey collector. These are just a few of the titles which describe a man involved with hockey for over 60 years. During that...

USA Field Hockey Celebrates 100 Years

01 July 2022
USA Field Hockey Celebrates 100 Years

“Honour our past. Grateful for the present. Excited for the future.”   On Saturday 18 June 2022, USA Field Hockey (USAFH) celebrated its centennial with a dinner at The Union League of Philadelphia. The event, postponed from earlier in the year due to the ongoing pandemic, brought generations of individuals...

150 Years Of Teddington HC: Hockey’s Formative First Club Celebrates Its Sesquicentenary

22 June 2022
150 Years Of Teddington HC: Hockey’s Formative First Club Celebrates Its Sesquicentenary

Last weekend, on Saturday 18 June 2022, Teddington Hockey Club (THC) celebrated its 150th anniversary (sesquicentenary) with a Gala Dinner and by re-creating a hockey match from the period of their founding in 1871. These events were followed by intra-club junior and adult hockey tournaments on the Sunday.   The...

Fundraising Trustee Needed

16 June 2022
Fundraising Trustee Needed

  Are you an experienced professional looking for an opportunity to actively contribute to the development of a young, vibrant and rapidly expanding museum?   Who We Are The Hockey Museum is the first and only museum of hockey in the world and aims to preserve, share and celebrate the...

130 Honours Caps Awarded to GB Hockey Players Over Jubilee Weekend

10 June 2022
130 Honours Caps Awarded to GB Hockey Players Over Jubilee Weekend

During the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, 130 former Great Britain (GB) hockey players came together across two days at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre to receive their GB honours caps.              Copyright: England Hockey / WorldSportPics.com Will Palmer   The Caps and the Presentation...

Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club: A Decade Of Volunteering And A Century Of Success

26 May 2022
Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club: A Decade Of Volunteering And A Century Of Success

Since The Hockey Museum (THM) acquired its first premises in Woking in 2011, the support of the ‘hockey family’ has been integral to its growth. The core of its volunteers has traditionally been drawn from local hockey clubs including Ashford, Staines, Wimbledon, Teddington, Richmond and Woking itself. These days THM...

Great Britain Honours Cap Presentations To 1978-80 Squad Members

28 April 2022
Great Britain Honours Cap Presentations To 1978-80 Squad Members

  The Great Britains women's squad 1978-1980. Standing (left to right): Janet Burrows, Marilyn Pugh (nee Morgan), Judith Foston, Maggie Souyave, Linda Carr, Jane Swinnerton-Ions, Janet Jones (nee Jurischka), Rosie Sykes, Pam Stuart Williams, Jenny Givan Redpath, Sheila Morrow, Shirley Ellis-Morgan, Elan Borrowman. Sitting (left to right): Barbara Hambly, Pauline...

Uncovering The Story Of Vera Cox – A Talk By Frances Thompson

28 April 2022
Uncovering The Story Of Vera Cox – A Talk By Frances Thompson

  England women’s hockey team vs Ireland, March 1911. Vera Cox is seated centrally holding a ball.   The Hockey Museum is hosting a short talk by visiting researcher Frances Thompson on the life of her relative Vera Cox. The talk will be held at The Hockey Museum in Woking,...

'Hockey Family' Invited To A Celebration Of The Life Of The Late Mike Ward

01 April 2022
'Hockey Family' Invited To A Celebration Of The Life Of The Late Mike Ward

  An event celebrating the life of the late Mike Ward will be held on 13 May 2022 at their Chaplegate home ground, at the Bournemouth University Clubhouse complex. Address: Christchurch Road, East Parley BH23 6BL. The general arrival time will be around 13:00 for 13:30. There will be a...

London reunion for the Munich 1972 GB Olympic squad

31 March 2022
London reunion for the Munich 1972 GB Olympic squad

   The 1972 Great Britain men's squad during their reunion earlier this month. Back row: Peter Ewles, John French, Bernie Cotton, Keith Sinclair, Peter Mills, Paul Svehlik, Peter Marsh, Rui Saldanha.Front row: Graham Evans, Terry Gregg, Mike Crowe, Tony Ekins, Mike Corby, Chris Langhorne, Richard Oliver.   By Keith Sinclair...

The Hockey Museum's Research Leads Peter Smith To Receive His GB Cap

17 March 2022
The Hockey Museum's Research Leads Peter Smith To Receive His GB Cap

  Peter Smith receives his cap from GB Hockey President Sheila Morrow.   On 10 March, Great Britain Hockey President Sheila Morrow travelled to Somerset to present Peter Smith with his honours cap. Peter is nowadays confined to bed but remains mentally very active. Sheila spent an enjoyable few hours...

Avtar Singh Sohal: Kenya Recognises Its Most Distinguished Hockey Son

16 March 2022
Avtar Singh Sohal: Kenya Recognises Its Most Distinguished Hockey Son

  Avtar Singh Sohal (affectionately known as Tari), now 83, is widely respected as the greatest Kenyan hockey player of all time. His elite hockey career began when he represented British Kenya (Kenya was then a colony of the British Empire) during the Rome Olympic Games of 1960, continuing to...

The Hockey Museum Moves On

04 March 2022
The Hockey Museum Moves On

  Out-going Curator and The Hockey Museum Founder Mike Smith congratulates in-coming Curator Shane Smith.   On Thursday 24 February, The Hockey Museum (THM) ‘re-launched’ itself with a new exhibition for 40 or so invited guests. At this event THM’s creator, Mike Smith, announced his forthcoming retirement as Curator in...

The Hockey Museum Exhibition Re-launches With Special Presentations

04 March 2022
The Hockey Museum Exhibition Re-launches With Special Presentations

The Hockey Museum (THM) re-launched its exhibition on Thursday 24 February at our home in 13 High Street, Woking.   Unveiling of the Olympic Quilts The centrepiece of the evening was the unveiling of the amazing five-drop Olympic Hockey Quilts created by local artist Pat Deacon. The artwork captures all...

Val Robinson OBE Passes Away

14 February 2022
Val Robinson OBE Passes Away

  Val Robinson in action at Wembley stadium in 1974.   The Hockey Museum (THM) is very saddened to hear news of the death of Val Robinson on Sunday 13 February. The 'hockey family' will mourn the loss of one of their greatest players. Val played for England from 1963...

Home

About Us & Visiting

Support Us

Contact Us

Subscribe To THM Mailing List

News

Features

Artefacts & Archives

Oral Histories

Library

Research & Study Topics

Education

Quizzes & Games

International Focus

Our Partners

BathUni Library Logo     EH Logo on white    FIH Logo Large    HLF compact cmyk   Mercian BLACK 2011 12   WokingBC RGB logo     CMYK Portrait

S5 Box

Login

Register

You need to enable user registration from User Manager/Options in the backend of Joomla before this module will activate.