The British Society of Sports History (BSSH) Conference 2026 took place in Edinburgh between 26–28 August. The Hockey Museum (THM) was well represented with three of its team speaking at the prestigious event (not all about hockey!) and seven in attendance.
Well done to everyone, whether presenting or engaging, for banging the drum for hockey history and The Hockey Museum at BSSH 2026.
The programme for the BSSH Conference included papers given by three researchers involved with THM:
- Mark Evans (THM volunteer researching early women’s league hockey) – “More than one sport.” Multi-talented sports women in Lancashire in the early 1930s and early 19640s.
- Dr Heather Dichter (THM trustee and sports historian) – Salt Lake City 1976: the effort to keep the 1976 Winter Olympics in the United States.
- Emmy Sale (collaborative doctoral student with THM and De Montfort University) – “Why then appear on the hockey field in petticoats and other unsuitable clothing?” Unform rules in early women’s hockey governance, 1895–1909.
Postgraduate prize for Emmy Sale
We are delighted to share the fantastic news that our doctoral student, Emmy Sale, was declared the winner of the Richard Cox Postgraduate Prize 2026. The prestigious award recognises outstanding work from new researchers. Emmy’s achievement related to her article titled Dressing by the Rules: How the All England Women’s Hockey Association [AEWHA] Gendered the Rules of the Game, 1895–1909. It covers the period between 1895 and 1909 when the AEWHA expanded the Hockey Association’s men’s rules to address challenges to safety and gameplay caused by women’s headwear and skirts which touched the floor!
Many congratulations from your colleagues at THM, Emmy! This award is worthy recognition of your superb original research into women’s hockey uniforms.
More on Emmy’s achievement here: 2026 Richard Cox Postgraduate Prize | British Society of Sports History
Emmy will be giving a talk for the 19th Century Dress and Textiles Reframed Network on Sunday 25th October 2026. Her short talk will be on the beginnings of a dress culture in women’s hockey 1880-1895 with a focus on suburban clubs, what players wore and strategies for team colours.
The talks will be hosted free of charge online.
The Hockey Museum representatives at the British Society of Sports History Conference 2026.
From left to right: Dr Heather Dichter (THM trustee), Dr Katie Dodd (THM vice president), Emmy Sale (THM doctoral student), Dr Jo Halpin (THM volunteer), Imogen Gibbon (THM trustee), Mark Evans (THM trustee), Evlyn Raistrick (Scottish Hockey Heritage Group).
