Oral History Interview: Martin Gotheridge

Partial Transcript: GOTHERIDGE: I'm Martin Gotheridge. I was born on the 23rd of February 1943 in Nottingham.

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge introduces himself and states his date of birth.

Keywords: Date of birth; Nottingham--United Kingdom (UK)

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Erm, how did you get started in hockey?

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge recalls his hockey playing career from school to university and then joining West Bridgford Old Boys Hockey Club after graduating.

Keywords: Goalkeeper; Public Transport; Rugby; School; University College London (UCL); West Bridgford Hockey Club; West Bridgford Old Boys Hockey Club

Subjects: Teams--Boys--School; Teams--Men--Club; Teams--Men--College & University

Partial Transcript: GOTHERIDGE: Inevitably, er, when I got back someone recognised my talents were not on the field and within about four months I'd been made Secretary of the Club [laughs].

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge recalls his rise from club Secretary to Chairperson of the Competitions Committee at England Hockey (HA).

Keywords: Barbara Miroy; Chairperson; Competitions Committee; Executive Committee; Hockey Association (HA); Midland Counties Hockey Association (MCHA)/Midlands (territory); Nottinghamshire (county); President; Secretary; Tarn Hodder; West Bridgford Hockey Club; West Bridgford Old Boys Hockey Club

Subjects: Administration & Finances--Club; Administration & Finances--County; Administration & Finances--National; Administration & Finances--Territory; Associations--National; Recollection of Others--Administrator

Partial Transcript: GOTHERIDGE: So th-that was it. I gave up playing when I was, I don't know, about thirty-two I think and went umpiring full time. And I spent twenty years umpiring, er, and finally gave that up in 1995.

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge describes his transition to umpiring after giving up playing hockey.

Keywords: England; International caps; National League; Umpire

Subjects: Umpiring--Club

Partial Transcript: GOTHERIDGE: In 1988 I became a member of the Competitions Committee in European Hockey Federation and I continued in that position for about ten years.

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge recalls his time as Secretary and, later, Vice-president and President of the European Hockey Federation (EHF).

Keywords: Alain Danet; Competitions Committee; European Hockey Federation (EHF); International Hockey Federation (FIH); Junior World Cup; Lawyer; Leandro Negre; Milton Keynes--United Kingdom (UK); Phil Appleyard/Walter Philip Appleyard; President; Robert Lycke; Secretary; The National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes; Treasurer; Vice-president

Subjects: Administration & Finances--International; Associations--International; Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia; Life Outside of Hockey--Career; Recollection of Others--Administrator; Tournaments--International; Tournaments--Junior

Partial Transcript: GOTHERIDGE: I continued to be associated in some ways. I've done things for the International Federation, er, and European Federation. I seem to, er, now, I mean having had my time as a, a match official, a TD and so on, I seem to now be, er, appointed mainly as Chairman of Jury of Appeal for big tournaments...

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge discusses his role as an Official at international hockey tournaments and elaborates on the role of the Jury of Appeal. He recounts an anecdote from the 2014 World Cup when Argentina fielded twelve players against England in the bronze medal match without any of the officials noticing and explains his most difficult appeal which arose from the Hockey India League (HIL).

Keywords: Argentina; Athletics; Bronze Medal; Chairperson; England; European Hockey Federation (EHF); Hockey India League (HIL); India; International Hockey Federation (FIH); International Match; Jury of Appeal; Lawyer; Official; Olympics/Olympic Games; Technical Delegate; Tournament Director; Umpire

Subjects: Associations--International; Life Outside of Hockey--Career; Olympic Games--2012 London; Rules; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--Club; Tournaments--International; Umpiring--International; World Cup--Men--2014 The Hague

Partial Transcript: GOTHERIDGE: Yes, I mean the other time my legal background came in was when [pause] er, the Engli--England Hockey Association

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge reflects on the financial difficulties that heralded the demise of the English Hockey Association (EHA) and his role, as a certified legal practitioner, in the creation of England Hockey (HA) from its ashes.

Keywords: England Hockey (EH); English Hockey Association (EHA); Lawyer; Loan; Lottery Funding; Stewart Newton; UK Sport

Subjects: Administration & Finances--Grants & Funding; Administration & Finances--National; Association Liquidation & Mergers; Associations--National; Life Outside of Hockey--Career; Recollection of Others--Administrator

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Is there anything you'd go back and do differently?

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge examines the significant rule changes that have occurred during his career within hockey and how they have impacted the game. He discusses the evolution of playing surfaces and recalls his role in moving English hockey towards the professional game we know today with the creation of league competitions.

Keywords: AstroTurf/Artificial Turf; Chairperson; England Hockey (EH); Euro Hockey League (EHL); European Hockey Federation (EHF); Football (Soccer); Free Hit; Friendly Match; Goalkeeper; Goalkeeper Gloves; Goalkeeper Groin/Pelvic Guard (Box); Goalkeeper Kickers; Grass; Great Britain; Hockey Association (HA); Ian Taylor; Midland Counties Hockey Association (MCHA)/Midlands (territory); National League; Obstruction; Offside; Olympics/Olympic Games; Penalty Bully; Penalty Shootout; Penalty Stroke; Quarters; Redgra; Roger Self; Self-pass; Shin Pads; Television

Subjects: Administration & Finances--National; Administration & Finances--Territory; Amateurism & Professionalism; Associations--International; Associations--National; Kit & Equipment; Media; Olympic Games--1976 Montreal; Olympic Games--1984 Los Angeles; Playing Surfaces; Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager; Recollection of Others--Player; Rules; Tournaments--Club

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Martin, you've travelled around quite a l--er, most of the world I would guess, in your role, various roles, erm...
GOTHERIDGE: Well, Europe in particular but yes I have been [laughs]...

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge discusses his friendship with the late Sultan of Perak, Azlan Shah. He recalls an anecdote about their time at the London 1986 World Cup.

Keywords: Australia; Azlan Shah; Chief Justice; India; International Hockey Federation (FIH); King; Lawyer; Malaysia; Perak--Malaysia; Sultan Azlan Shah; University of Nottingham; Vice-president

Subjects: Life Outside of Hockey--Career; Recollection of Others--Administrator; Social & Friendships; Tournaments--International; World Cup; World Cup--Men--1986 London

Partial Transcript: GOTHERIDGE: But it's, er, no it is, it is fanci--fascinating, er, seeing it around the world and particularly in, er, I mean, Olympics in Beijing, I mean in China.

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge recalls his experiences of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games reflecting on the organisation and the volunteering.

Keywords: Beijing--China; China; Disallowed Goal; Netherlands; Olympics/Olympic Games

Subjects: Olympic Games--2008 Beijing; Volunteering

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Martin, you've told me a lot about your hockey career. Is there anything else that we haven't covered?

Segment Synopsis: Gotheridge recalls his admiration for the female players who played international hockey matches at Wembley Stadium. He tell of his experiences whilst visiting Wembley Stadium as a spectator.

Keywords: All England Womens Hockey Association (AEWHA); Anne Ellis; AstroTurf/Artificial Turf; England; English Hockey Association (EHA); Football (Soccer); Grass; Hockey Association (HA); International Match; Lord's Cricket Ground; Programme; Sheila Morrow; Wales; Wembley Stadium

Subjects: Association Liquidation & Mergers; Associations--National; Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia; Playing Surfaces; Recollection of Others--Player; Teams--Women--International