Dr. Margaret Hunnaball:  From Essex to the International Stage 

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women who not only break barriers but quietly, consistently reshape the spaces they work in. Dr. Margaret Hunnaball’s journey through international hockey is exactly that story.  

From a young goalkeeper in Essex to one of the most respected umpire managers in world hockey, Margaret’s career spans continents and generations. 

Margaret’s roster of achievements speaks for itself; she has umpired at the Commonwealth Games and a Junior World Cup, sat on the FIH Rules Committee and been an Umpire Manager at the Paris Olympic Games.  

But her hockey journey began in Colchester, where she first picked up a stick aged 11, and experienced her first leadership role on a club committee. That early introduction to responsibility would become a theme throughout her life. 

At Colchester, it was in fact the misfortune of a broken finger that changed everything. Handed a whistle instead of a stick, she caught the eye of national umpire selector Mary Harris, who encouraged her to “give it a go.” A simple instruction, but one that would alter the course of her career. 

At the University of Southampton, she successfully captained the hockey side as a goalkeeper and took her first umpiring qualification. 

Margaret rose quickly through the national ranks, earning her international badge in 1996. What followed was nearly three decades of service at the highest level of the sport. 

Throughout her journey, mentors such as Brenda Bradford and Gill Clarke MBE shaped her philosophy. Their belief in her ability helped her transition from talented player to elite official. 

Today, as an umpire manager, she makes it her mission to stand beside officials, especially when things go wrong: 

“Mistakes are part of life,” she says. “You can be honest with people. You can give tough feedback. But you can always do it kindly.” 

That belief in compassion over criticism has become her leadership hallmark. 

Over 16 years, she also helped shape the sport from within as a member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Rules Board, not as a token appointment, but as a passionate advocate for the game. 

“I didn’t spend 16 years there because I’m a woman,” she says. “I spent 16 years there because I care about helping shape the game.” 

Margaret has been part of a generational shift in international hockey officiating, moving from gender-separated pathways to single panels where appointments are based on merit and fit for the game. 

She beams recalling a moment when former GB captain David Ames described Sarah Wilson as “probably the best umpire in the world”, not the best female umpire, but the best, full stop. 

For Margaret, that distinction matters: “I don’t want young women to see themselves as ‘women umpires,’” she says. “I want them to see themselves as umpires.” 

Behind the glamour of global tournaments lies the often-unseen reality that umpires are not professional athletes. They juggle careers, families, and finances alongside their officiating commitments. Margaret did so while rising to deputy headteacher in the state education sector, often using annual leave, and sometimes paying for classroom cover herself, to represent her country. 

What sustained her through those pressures was the community around her: 

“International hockey is as much about relationships as it is about performance.” 

 The officials she stood beside in Argentina in 2001 would later become colleagues again at the Olympic Games in Paris but most importantly friends. For Margaret, the lasting friendships within the global hockey family has been one of the greatest privileges of her career. 

“Hockey is a team sport,” she wrote. “Best practice sees umpires, officials and coaches working together to allow players to showcase their skills.” 

On this International Women’s Day, Margaret’s message to women across the sport is powerful in its simplicity: “Be confident. And just go for it.” 

After nearly three decades at the pinnacle of world hockey, Dr. Margaret Hunnaball leaves behind more than a résumé of global tournaments. She leaves a legacy of empathy and quiet trailblazing leadership.