Elizabeth (Liz) Huggins was the manager of the Great Britain (GB) women’s hockey team during the 1980s. Under the management of Liz and the coaching of Win Heath, the squad worked hard to qualify and then prepare for the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games. Sixteen were selected for what should have been a first Olympic appearance for GB’s women. Unfortunately, there was a political boycott following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan and both the men’s and women’s hockey squads withdrew. Liz discusses the strength of her team, their motivation to do well and challenges that occurred when it came to training. She explains why her team did not qualify for the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games and the impact of the introduction of artificial turf. She recounts friendships she made throughout her hockey career and how she has filled her time since resigning as manager.

Image: The Hockey Museum