ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS
Much of the history that we store in our heads is lost as we age or pass away. Oral history is the practice of recording people’s recollections and personal stories, in their own words and voice, for the future.
Oral History Collection
Welcome to The Hockey Museum’s archive of oral history intreviews. These audio recordings capture the personal stories, memories and experiences of players, coaches, administrators, officials and fans who have been part of hockey’s rich heritage across all levels of the game. Each interview offers unique insights into our sport’s evolution, memorable moments, and the people who shaped hockey history. Listen as they share their passion for our sport and their contributions to the hockey community.
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Born in 1972, Ian Southgate became involved with Alton Hockey Club in Hampshire (England) in 1988 at the age of 16: he loved the social side of the game, especially of the clubhouse. By the time Ian had progressed in the early 1990s to become 2nd XI Captain, his highest position, hockey and its league structure was transforming in significant ways. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of artificial turf, which led to an unsettled transition for the Club, moving around the area until it found a home back in Alton, initially at Alton Hill School and later Eggers School, both of which had artificial turf and floodlighting. Playing through this period, Ian recalls how after a period of ‘dark times’ that saw the Club’s existence threatened, it then flourished to become a 300-400 member organisation by 2019 with a committed leadership, coaching staff of ten, dedicated volunteer team, as well as some juniors players of notable success like Alex Danson. Despite fund-raising challenges, Ian is proud of the Club’s forty-one year history, whose key achievement as a ‘family-run club’ is the generations of children coming through its youth section. Continuing to play through injuries, Ian's focus has moved to ensuring that the Club runs on a correct and stable footing.
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