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The original school colours were dark blue and light blue, the colour combination still seen widely in the school’s everyday kit. The combination of green and gold worn by first teams is so recognisable today that it is a surprise to discover that they did not become our school colours until 1896.
For quite a long time green and gold were the preserve of the ‘elite’ 1st Rugby Football XV and 1st Cricket XI. Regarded as a secondary sport, boys hockey was late in being allowed to wear green and gold; for all of the first half of the twentieth century the team wore plain white jerseys.
A similar controversy was repeated in 1990 when the first girls hockey tour was planned. It was deemed unsuitable for girls to be allowed to wear first team colours for hockey so the colour combination on the tour top is green without gold.
Object No. 35, the green tour sweatshirt with silver detail, represents a period in which seismic shifts in thinking occurred. On display in the 1541 exhibition, it also represents changing expectations and opportunities.
Photo: GIRLS HOCKEY XI 1989-90 (wearing Taunton tour kit). Standing: AMH, Louise Hartley, Lucy Evans, Kate Edwards, Morwenna Watts, Georgina Harvey-Smith, Jayne Eckley. Seated: Jane Williams, Julie Nisbet, Jenny Jones, Melanie Rees (Capt.), Sarah Jones, Sally Goldsmith, Janet Li.
Photo: 26 November 1988. Behind: Jayne Eckley, Sarah Jones, Julie Nisbet. In front: Melanie Rees, Catherine Rees, Rachel Marsden, Megan Phillips, Emma Hill, Jo Davey, Annabel Lloyd, Jenny Jones.
The first Girls Hockey XI match against Llandovery took place on 27 November 1987. Played at Llandovery, the XI lost 0-6 away. The first home match against Llandovery was played on 26 November 1988, with the home team narrowly beaten by the visitors 1-2. At the end of the 1988/89 season, full hockey colours were awarded to Rachel Marsden, Jo Davey, Emma Hill, Sarah Jones, Jenny Jones, Jane Eckley and Mel Rees. Their tie was blue and silver.
Photo: County Players 1997-1998. Standing: Lucy Lambton, Rhian Williams, Helen Bowen, Anna Mundhenke, Elizabeth Duggan. Seated: Ami Hilliard, Kate Sheehan, Catherine Williams.
The Girls Hockey XI played their 100th match on 21 September 1996. It wasn’t until the following season that they were allowed to wear the green and gold, with Kate Sheehan (captain) and Kate Morris (vice-captain) amongst the first recipients of full-colours.
While choosing items for the 1541 exhibition, this piece of sporting history was shared with the Head’s Essay Society. In an era when girls hockey is a highly successful school sport and at a time when girls and boys have equal status, there was a palpable gasp of shock from Sixth Form pupils - boys and girls.
Now, of course, when the Girls Hockey XI turns out for a match, there is no question about the colours they will wear when they play. Object 35 is reminder that the world was once a very different place.
