THE CRICKETING COP
Published in Playing Past – June 2020
Situated in the North Atlantic Ocean to the north east of Cuba, and north of the British Virgin Islands, lies the self-governing British overseas territory of Bermuda. With its tropical, climate, sandy beaches and clear blue waters, it attracts more than half a million visiting tourists each year.
Bermuda plays host to the primary Royal Navy base located in the western hemisphere, where it was not long before its naval and military personnel introduced and formalised a number of sports, including cricket, football, rugby and tennis, which were popular back home. The first recorded cricket match held in Bermuda was in 1844, and the following year the Bermuda Cricket Club was formed, assisted with the helping hands of British troops.
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DARTS – SPORT OR PASTIME ?
Published in Playing Past – May 2020
You may never have considered yourself a sports aficionado, however since you are spending a little of your valuable time skimming through this piece in Playing Pasts, it suggests to me you have more than a passing interest in some form of sporting activity. Perhaps a popular team sport, such as football, cricket, rugby or hockey, or maybe an individual sporting activity, maybe archery, darts, fishing or snooker. Indeed you may have occasionally paused to question how a particular sport came to prominence.
Darts is an interesting example. Surely almost all of us will have at some time or another been tempted to aimlessly chuck a few well-worn ‘arrows’ at an equally well-worn board, hung in a quiet corner of the taproom of our local boozer, usually with little, if any, meaningful success. It has always been a game with huge potential, but has it become a recognised and engaging sport, or will it continue to remain a well-loved pastime ?
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LIBERTY FIELDS – PIONEERS OF ASIAN WOMEN’S RUGBY
Published in Playing Past – February 2020
In early November 2019, in the land renowned for its rising sun, it set softly over the Yokohama International Stadium, bringing to a close the spectacularly successful ninth quadrennial edition of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Hosted by underdogs Japan, the first Championship to be held in Asia registered a total of 20 nations, all of which qualified to compete from an initial list of 93 entries. After initial plans to hold matches in Hong Kong and Singapore, which were ultimately scrapped, a grand total of 1.36 million animated spectators attended the 45 matches, played at 12 different venues across the country, averaging 34,865 spectators for each of the games.
Following a dramatic opening display by the Japan Air Self-Defence Force’s Blue Impulse aerobatic team at the Tokyo Stadium in Chōfu, the opening match was played on the 20 September between Japan and Russia, which was won by the host nation 30-10. For the first time in Rugby World Cup history, World Rugby and the Japan Rugby Organising Committee, announced the cancellation of three Pool matches for safety reasons, due to the adverse weather conditions predicted to impact as a result of Typhoon Hagibis. The final match was held at the International Stadium Yokohama on the 2 November in front of a crowd of 70,000 enthusiastic spectators, when the South Africa men’s rugby union side celebrated a historic 32-12 victory against an England side which kicked off as clear favourites, matching the defending champions New Zealand to become only the second country to win three titles. New Zealand finished in third place and collected the bronze medal following a convincing win 40-17 over Wales.
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LIBERTY FIELDS – PIONEERS OF ASIAN WOMEN’S RUGBY DOWNLOAD
THE RACE FOR DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE
Published in Playing Past – October 2019
The ancient sport of rowing was initially included in the programme of events for the first international Games of the Olympiad in modern history. Organised by the International Olympic Committee [IOC] in 1896, the Summer Olympics were originally scheduled to be held in Athens but the events were cancelled due to bad weather.
Subsequently it has been part of the Olympics programme since its debut in the 1900 Summer Olympics regatta, when four events were contested on the Seine in Paris, between the Courbevoie Bridge and the Asnières Bridge. In the beginning only men were allowed to compete until women’s events were introduced in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada.
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A PASSION FOR POLO
Published in Playing Past – September 2019
Not the glistening white spherical mint with the hole in the middle, but the game played on horse-back, known as the ‘sport of kings’.
Although the precise origin of the game remains unknown, it is one of the oldest team sports known to man. It is believed the genesis of the sport can be traced back to a simple game played in Central Asia by mounted Iranian nomads, dating back to before the birth of Christ. From there it is said to have spread to Persia [Iran], where it was considered a valuable training game for the cavalry units of the king’s guard, or other elite troops. Over time polo became a Persian national sport played extensively by the nobility. In due course reaching Arabia, India, and South Asia, and now popular around the world.
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THE GIFTED LOTTIE DOD
Published in Playing Past – August 2019
As in life, there are those in sport who have gone before, paving the way for future champions to mature and rise to fame. One such remarkable English sports-woman may arguably have surpassed them all. Perhaps best known for her prowess as a tennis player Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Dod won the first of five Wimbledon Ladies Singles Championships in 1887, at the age of 15 years and 285 days.
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Part 1: The Gifted Lottie Dod Download
Part 2: The Gifted Lottie Dod Download
JACK DEMPSEY – THE MANASSA MAULER
Published in Playing Pasts – July 2019
Was Jack Dempsey one of the greatest heavyweights of all time ? Clearly this is a claim that can never be proven. He was however a splendid example of the best of boxing. Undoubtedly one of the sport’s finest ambassadors, and maybe one of a few great champions who went out of his way to help, without asking ‘How much ?’ Nicknamed the ‘Manassa Mauler’, Dempsey loved the fight game, and never had a bad word to say about boxing writers, even those who criticised him.
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THE PRIZE-FIGHTER – FIGG
Published in Playing Pasts – June 2019
During the early part of the 18 century bare-knuckle boxing came into its own. It differed from street-fighting in that it had an accepted set of basic rules, which involved two individuals fighting each other without any form of padding to the hands.
Before the basic rules of pugilism were modified, bare-knuckle combat was only one specialiaty numbered among several other disciplines, including combat using foils, cudgels and quarter staffs, grappling techniques, throws, arm locks, chokes and kicking. With the passing of time such techniques were progressively prohibited, as those associated with the modern sport of boxing were developed.
The first great pugilistic to figure in British history was James Figg, who was generally acclaimed as being more adept with the sabre and staff.
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THE GRAND NATIONAL TREASURE Published in Playing Pasts – April 2019
Historic accounts suggest it was the Romans who first brought the thrill of horse racing to our shores. Now readily accessible to all sections of society, it is recognised as the second biggest spectator sport and one of Britain’s favourite pastimes. Royalty has consistently demonstrated its affection for the sport, with race horses frequently being presented to them as gifts. To this day it remains known as the ‘Sport of Kings’.
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THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! Published in Playing Pasts – March – April, 2019.
We will never know if Lawton was the greatest centre-forward ever to pull on an England jersey, but what we do know is that he played in an era which was totally different from that of today. When in an entire career which lasted 20 years, he never earned as much cumulatively as many a footballer of today earns in a week !
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- Part 1: THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! Childhood Days. Download
- Part 2: THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! The Burnley and Everton Years. Download
- Part 3: THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! The War Years and Chelsea. Download
- Part 4: THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! Notts. County to Aresnal via Brentford FC. Download
- Part 5: THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! International Playing Days and Management. Download
- Part 6: THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! Troubled Times. Download
- Part 7: THE LEGEND THAT WAS LAWTON ! Personal Life and Career Statistics.Download
PARENTS ARE IMPORTANT TOO ! Published in Playing Pasts – February, 2019.
A thoughtful insight into the importance of the role played by parents and close relatives, in positively guiding young sports enthusiasts towards the attainment their of sporting aims.
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PARENTS ARE IMPORTANT TOO ! DOWNLOAD
BARE-KNUCKLE BRUISERS ! Published in Playing Pasts – January, 2019.
The first recorded bare-knuckle boxing match was held in England in 1681, and although such bouts were judged illegal, within a few years contests were frequently being fought in and around the city of London. Impoverished fighters would scrap for whatever purse they could agree, more often than not supplemented by the added incentive of side stakes, while eager crowds of spectators wagered substantial sums on the outcome.
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FOOTBALL FIRSTS. Published in Playing Pasts – November, 2018.
Early records suggest that people have enjoyed booting a ball around for hundreds of years. In fact the game can be traced back as far as our medieval ancestors, when young men were said to compete in chaotic contests, hoofing an inflated pig’s bladder through village streets, over fields, hedges and streams.
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FOOTBALL FIRSTS DOWNLOAD
SPORT IN TUDOR TIMES. Published in Playing Pasts – September, 2018.
The powerful Tudor dynasty reigned from 1485 until 1603. In his prime Henry VIII was perhaps the most infamous of the Tudor monarchs. Characterised as being lustful, egotistical, harsh, and insecure, he was described as being ‘one of the most charismatic rulers to sit on the English throne’. An author and composer, in later life he became severely obese, and suffered ill health which contributed to his death in 1547.
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SPORT IN TUDOR TIMES DOWNLOAD