In very exciting news, The Hockey Museum (THM) is re-opening this month!

We will be welcoming back our volunteers, socially distanced and safely, from the week commencing 17 May 2021 and returning to our regular public opening hours from the week of 21 June 2021 in line with the current government road map.

Should members of the public wish to visit before June, we will return to accepting visits by appointment outside of our volunteer days to minimise risk.

A New Exhibit Telling The Story of Changing Goalkeeper Equipment During The 1980s

Ahead of re-opening, the museum team have been undertaking some light refurbishment works before we welcome back our wonderful volunteers and the visiting public. Keen to create a fresh, welcoming experience we’ve changed a few exhibits and had a good de-clutter to boot.

One new exhibit, co-curated with former England and Great Britain (GB) goalkeeper John Hurst, tells the story of the innovative introduction of new protective kit by GB’s Ian Taylor during the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Technological developments in hockey equipment and playing surfaces in the years prior to 1984 demanded an evolution of goalkeeping technique to counter the improved pace and accuracy of outfield play. Goalkeepers were now expected to charge down shots as they were struck (a technique known as ‘logging’) rather than relying solely on their reflexes – a much more dangerous style. Yet Taylor met this challenge imperiously with a little help from the ice hockey shops of Los Angeles.

Taylor’s standout performances in his new ‘body armour’ changed the face of hockey goalkeeping. GB claimed an unexpected bronze medal in 1984 beginning the journey to 1988 gold medal success in Seoul, and Taylor’s innovation led ultimately to the foam armour that is so well established today.