The past, present and future of English sport.
The past
English sport has had a great history and we have had lots of highs and lows. We invented quite a few of the sports that the world play today.
In the past English sport has had some triumphant moments in sport. We won the football World Cup in 1966 and the rugby world cup in 2003. With David Beckham and Jonny Wilkinson being 2 of the biggest names their sports have ever had.
In the past we have had some great golfers with Nick Faldo winner 6 majors in the late eights and the early nineties. At the turn of the 19th century we had dominant period with players such as John Henry Taylor and Jim Barnes with many majors between them.
We’ve had some of the best boxer’s in history that have kept some unbelievable records. Lennox Lewis retired having beaten everyone he’d ever fought. Yes a few were not the 1st time but either way it’s a record that is 2nd to none. There were also other great in Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank who has a great rivalry and who can forget “Prince” Naseem Hamed who only lost once in his career.
In Formula 1 we have more Constructors championship that any other nation and we are 1st in the drivers championship all time list. With greats such as James Hunt, James Surtees, Graham and Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell all winning World Championship. Then there Sir Stirling Moss who is said to have been debatable the greatest racing driver ever to have lived and is certainly the greatest racing driver never to have won the world title.
We have a Tennis women’s open era major winner in Sue Barker in 1976. There have also been some pre open era English winners. With the Doherty brother dominating wimbledon at the turn of the 19th century. Then there is Fred Perry who has won the career grand slam.
We have had some great cricket players over the years with players like Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and Andrew Flintoff which have become household names. Geoffrey Boycott who played in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and become the 1st Englishman to average over 100 runs in a season.
We have always been good at a variety of different track and field events of Athletics and have had greats like Daley Thompson, Linford Christie and Kelly Holmes getting medals over the years. Steve Redgrave has got 5 Olympic rowing gold medals in his career. Chris Hoy also got 3 gold medals in Cycling at the last Olympics.
Snooker is a sport that is mainly dominated by players from the UK and always has been. There have been great English players such as Ray Reardon, Steve Davis, Jimmy White.
