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 now part of Liverpool John Moores University.

Appropriately, the cap was presented during the 2022 Reunion of Old Students, many of whom had been taught by Maureen while they were training. Maureen, who died on 13 September 2004, was an England and GB international hockey player in the 1960s. As she left no direct family, it was decided to offer her honours cap to the University archives – they already hold Maureen’s international blazer, hockey stick and scrapbooks. Sheila Morrow, the GB President and herself a former student at I M Marsh CPE, presented the cap to the Liverpool John Moores University Archivist, Emily Parsons.

Maureen Short’s GB honours cap presentation. From left to right: Sheila Morrow (GB President); Jean Taylor (Maureen’s best friend); Emily Parsons (John Moores University Archivist); Prof Phil Vickerman (Pro Vice-Chancellor John Moores University).

Maureen Short’s sporting life and academic career

Maureen was born in Liverpool on 6 March 1934 and following her school years she went to train as a PE teacher at Nonington College of Physical Education in Kent. After first teaching at schools in Bath and Wallasey, in 1961 she was appointed to the staff of I M Marsh CPE by the then Principal, Miss Marie Crabbe. Her main teaching areas were hockey, swimming and athletics. As a lecturer, Maureen demonstrated and demanded high standards and was only satisfied when you did the best you could. She was good at knowing when students achieved their best. Praise from Maureen was praise indeed!

Maureen Short photographed representing England in 1965.

Maureen Short, standing furthest right, in the England team which lost 1-3 to South Africa at Wembley in 1965.

Maureen’s hockey expertise was recognised from an early age and she gained representative honours through county and territory, eventually playing for England in 1965 and 1969. She was a key member of the very first GB squad that toured the USA in 1965.

The Story Of The First GB Women’s Matches: Born In The USA (hockeymuseum.net)

GB Cap Presentations To 1965 Great Britain & Ireland Touring Team Members (hockeymuseum.net)

She is remembered fondly by her teammates as someone who was very professional on the pitch, setting high standards for herself and others but was always kind and supportive. A great team player.

More about I M Marsh College of Physical Education

Discover more about the origins of I M Marsh CPE by clicking the following link: The History of I M Marsh College of Physical Education, Liverpool (hockeymuseum.net)