This photograph shows the Manchester High School hockey team in 1899.
What to look at in the photograph
The girls are dressed in the style of the 1890s with long skirts and blouses with long sleeves and high necklines. It must have made playing hockey difficult but it was thought to be more important that they were modestly dressed.
The hockey sticks they are holding are also typical of those used in Victorian times and are different from the design of modern hockey sticks.
This poem about a hockey match was written for the Manchester High School Magazine of 1899.
IT WAS A GLORIOUS VICTORY!
"Forward to the conflict!" was our captain's cry
As out against the hockey team we came our powers to try.
We won the toss, the game commenced and up the field we ran
And reached the outer circle where, bravely to a man,
They fought us off but back we came and on the victory bent,
We hit the ball mid cries of "Shoot!" till through the posts it went.
Our left inside, she shot the goal, hurrah for good old Meg,
While she plays for us we shall never for mercy have to beg.
She shot that goal and then two more, we struggled for another,
Till all the field with sticks and hair was in a thunderous smother!
The half time score was four to nil, we felt the day was won,
Space fails us here to tell of all the deeds of daring done.
They got down to our circle but with a sounding thwack
Our captain bold, she stopped the ball and sent it bounding back.
It went to Jess who took it on, then passed it out to Gert,
Who, as she regularly does, rolled on it in the dirt.
We scored again, they then set off and down the field they flew,
They gained our goal and tried to shoot and almost put it through.
Our captain's voice rang hoarsely out with quick shout of, "Take care!"
The half - backs seemed a mile away but Mollie was all there.
She calmly stopped the shot, then sent it flying to the side
Where Maggie took it neatly and she all attempts defied
To check her rush until she sent it through the posts once more
And soon by Meg another goal was added to the score.
At last it stood at seven to none, we thought it was sublime
And said as we went off the field, "We'll beat them worse next time!"
Tasks
What was the score at half time?
What was the final score?
Five girls in the team are named. What are their names?
Who scored four goals?
Who else is named as scoring one goal?
Which member of the team was always falling over during matches?
The author likened the hockey match to a battle in a war. Pick out some words or phrases which she used in the first verse to do this. Why do you think the author likened the hockey match to a battle?