On 14 April 1935 (not 1938 as stated on this British Pathé YouTube clip), Germany women played England women in Berlin. The result was 6-4 victory for England. An unexpected tour given the precarious political situation in Europe.
The England team line up: Eileen Arnold (GK), Mary Knott (captain), Marjorie Collins, Phyl Carlebach, Ruth Maddox, Rebecca Blaxland, Angela Pilley, Hilary Redman, Christina Goodman, Marjorie Pollard, Rosemary Marriott.
One of the umpires was LM Scott (England); the other was presumably German, but we do not yet know her name.
We believe that England forward Angela Pilley was something of a principled, social justice campaigner and the family tale has it that she upset the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA) by refusing to give the Nazi salute whilst running out between two lines of Hitler Youth. This would’ve been totally contrary to her beliefs and she is alleged to have made an anti-Nazi statement to the press afterwards. After this tour, which also included a match against the Netherlands in Haarlem, she was not officially selected for England again.
Reports of other England games in 1935 mention Angela as a fast and effective forward. She was clearly in her prime. An editorial in Hockey Field magazine in 1936 notes that, “Mrs Pilley does not even appear in the reserves list this year – surely the biggest surprise of all. According to reports from the territorial matches, Mrs Pilley has been up to form and lost none of her speed and initiative.”
Was Angela Pilley dropped for her political stance? We have yet to uncover concrete evidence of a statement to the German or English press, nor for that matter a reason given for her omission in the AEWHA minutes. We can see that none of the England team give the Nazi salute in the British Pathé video, but the national anthems (as shown) would’ve been after the runout (which isn’t). Were the England team made to salute, and did they? How did Pilley react?
Whatever the truth – and we may yet discover it – was there ever a time when selection didn’t surprise somebody?
