Sports History Podcasts

Last year BBC Radio 4 transmitted a long series of sports history programmes. The series was written by academics at De Montfort University, Leicester and was headed by Clare Balding. It is available as podcasts on the BBC website and includes a number of soccer specific episodes including:

"Beating Us At Our Own Game"

"Anyone But England"

"Exporting Football"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/sportbrit/all

Chelsea 'Keeper @ Sheffield United v Bury 1902

Another of those famous Mitchell and Kenyon soccer films. This time from 1902 and featuring the larger than life (in more ways than one) United goalkeeper, "Fatty" Foulke(s), later of Chelsea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UkVZZnrC4E


Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Foulke_(footballer)

Newcastle vs Liverpool 1901

Mitchell and Kenyon were pioneers of early cinematography. Travelling throughout Great Britain, they recorded films and then showed them at local venues in the evenings.

Although their films covered all aspects of late Victorian and early Edwardian life, those of most interest to me are the historic recordings of soccer matches.

The following is very typical:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhjTX39xKB4

Another Soccer History Account

Also read the following account of soccer history on the InfoBritain site. Some interesting photos related to the early history, including one of the Freemason's Arms in London where the English Football Association held its inaugural meetings.


http://www.infobritain.co.uk/History_Of_Football.htm

Groundtastic Is Here !!

Just met the postie going down the driveway and thrilled to receive my latest copy of Groundtastic magazine - a must for followers of soccer grounds/stadia history.

http://www.groundtastic.co.uk/

Football League Is Born

Paul Fletcher of BBC Sport has written an excellent article tracing the founding of the English football league.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21492352

Man U Trounced

Manchester United may be running away with this season's Premiership but in 1904 they more than met their match in the form of England's senior amateur club, Corinthians. As the caption for this photo indicates this is the only time in United's history that they have conceded 10 or more goals in a match:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46492720@N04/8164226954/in/set-72157630082874654