Rugby
Rugby
Rugby had been popular in English private schools and
universities in the mid-nineteenth century. By 1900 this
popularity had spread across South Wales with most villages
having their own teams where a poorer miner might be in the
same team as a richer doctor and teacher.
Rugby had been popular in English private schools and
universities in the mid-nineteenth century. By 1900 this
popularity had spread across South Wales with most villages
having their own teams where a poorer miner might be in the
same team as a richer doctor and teacher.
Professionalism affected rugby in 1895 over the issue of
‘broken-time’ because the Rugby Union refused to allow senior
players to be paid even though they had to take time off work
to play the game. This led to a split in rugby with the rugby
league being set up which allowed professionalism. This version
of the game developed its own rules and became very popular
in the factory and mining towns and cities in the north of
England. This split was not healed until the end of the twentieth
century.
Professionalism affected rugby in 1895 over the issue of
‘broken-time’ because the Rugby Union refused to allow senior
players to be paid even though they had to take time off work
to play the game. This led to a split in rugby with the rugby
league being set up which allowed professionalism. This version
of the game developed its own rules and became very popular
in the factory and mining towns and cities in the north of
England. This split was not healed until the end of the twentieth
century.
Welsh rugby had little to cheer in between World War I and
World War II. Rugby Union was affected badly by the depression
in the 1930s with many players leaving to play in the rugby
league. Many small rugby teams struggled to raise teams for
games due to the need to earn money just to survive and feed
their families.
Welsh rugby had little to cheer in between World War I and
World War II. Rugby Union was affected badly by the depression
in the 1930s with many players leaving to play in the rugby
league. Many small rugby teams struggled to raise teams for
games due to the need to earn money just to survive and feed
their families.
Football
Football
Football or ‘Association Football’ was very popular in both
Wales and England and was widely supported and played by
mainly working people. The Football Association (FA) allowed
the paying of players in 1885 but set a salary cap of just £4 a
week in 1901. This stayed in place until the early 1960s when it
had risen to £20 a week.
Football or ‘Association Football’ was very popular in both
Wales and England and was widely supported and played by
mainly working people. The Football Association (FA) allowed
the paying of players in 1885 but set a salary cap of just £4 a
week in 1901. This stayed in place until the early 1960s when it
had risen to £20 a week.
Thousands of supporters would travel to watch their teams play
and in the 1920s was truly seen as being the ‘people’s game.’ At
this time 6 million would pay to watch First Division football and
over half a million regularly played it (in South Wales alone
there were over 300 clubs).
Thousands of supporters would travel to watch their teams play
and in the 1920s was truly seen as being the ‘people’s game.’ At
this time 6 million would pay to watch First Division football and
over half a million regularly played it (in South Wales alone
there were over 300 clubs).
Football was hit hard by the depression of the 1930s and
especially so in South Wales where there was huge
unemployment which meant fans couldn’t afford to watch their
teams. Clubs in this area faced hard times; Swansea Town had
to be saved from bankruptcy in 1935 and Cardiff City was
relegated to lowest division in 1931.
Football was hit hard by the depression of the 1930s and
especially so in South Wales where there was huge
unemployment which meant fans couldn’t afford to watch their
teams. Clubs in this area faced hard times; Swansea Town had
to be saved from bankruptcy in 1935 and Cardiff City was
relegated to lowest division in 1931.
In 1937 the country was emerging from the depressions and
with more media coverage sporting stars began to be born. The
first big money transfers started, this prompted questions in the
House of Commons. Gambling became hugely popular with
people playing the football pools with over 10 million betting
regularly by 1938.
In 1937 the country was emerging from the depressions and
with more media coverage sporting stars began to be born. The
first big money transfers started, this prompted questions in the
House of Commons. Gambling became hugely popular with
people playing the football pools with over 10 million betting
regularly by 1938.
Boxing
Boxing
Sports like boxing have a long history and were enjoyed by both
rich and poor people in the country. The rich would bet huge
sums of money on the matches whilst the poor would still
gamble as it gave a chance to earn extra money. Travelling fairs
and carnivals would also have ‘boxing booths’ where ordinary
people could take on a ‘pro’ for some prize money. Jimmy Wilde
became famous because of this starting his career at a
fairground in 1908. There is no evidence of women being
involved in this sport at this time.
Sports like boxing have a long history and were enjoyed by both
rich and poor people in the country. The rich would bet huge
sums of money on the matches whilst the poor would still
gamble as it gave a chance to earn extra money. Travelling fairs
and carnivals would also have ‘boxing booths’ where ordinary
people could take on a ‘pro’ for some prize money. Jimmy Wilde
became famous because of this starting his career at a
fairground in 1908. There is no evidence of women being
involved in this sport at this time.
Many boxers in Britain looked at the rewards for making it big in
the USA. One of these big US stars was Louis, ‘The Brown
Bomber’ who famously defended his title in 1937 against the
former Welsh miner Tommy Farr, who was one of Wales’ first
superstars. Farr earned over £10,000 for this fight.
Many boxers in Britain looked at the rewards for making it big in
the USA. One of these big US stars was Louis, ‘The Brown
Bomber’ who famously defended his title in 1937 against the
former Welsh miner Tommy Farr, who was one of Wales’ first
superstars. Farr earned over £10,000 for this fight.
Others weren’t as successful and many British boxers had to
fight an enormous number of contests to satisfy the demand
from the public who wanted fights every week. Boxers were
paid poorly during the depression with most earning just £2-£4
for a boxing match.
Others weren’t as successful and many British boxers had to
fight an enormous number of contests to satisfy the demand
from the public who wanted fights every week. Boxers were
paid poorly during the depression with most earning just £2-£4
for a boxing match.
Cricket
Cricket
Cricket was seen as the national sport of England more so than
football which was seen as a 'rougher' sport. It was a sport
mainly played by richer people but most towns and villages
even in poorer areas had teams. Paying for players had long
been common although they made sure there were differences
between the amateur 'gentlemen' and professional 'players'.
This difference meant not only a name but they would be kept
in different dressing rooms, hotels, railway carriages and even
enter the cricket ground from different entrances.
Cricket was seen as the national sport of England more so than
football which was seen as a 'rougher' sport. It was a sport
mainly played by richer people but most towns and villages
even in poorer areas had teams. Paying for players had long
been common although they made sure there were differences
between the amateur 'gentlemen' and professional 'players'.
This difference meant not only a name but they would be kept
in different dressing rooms, hotels, railway carriages and even
enter the cricket ground from different entrances.
Cricket attracted huge crowds to matches reaching its height
between World War 1 and World War 2. England were the
world leaders and often played matches against Australia for
the 'Ashes' trophy. Children would often be seen playing cricket
in streets using the lampposts as wickets as they tried to copy
their sporting heroes of the day such as Jack Hobbs and Wally
Hammond, two very successful professional players.
Cricket attracted huge crowds to matches reaching its height
between World War 1 and World War 2. England were the
world leaders and often played matches against Australia for
the 'Ashes' trophy. Children would often be seen playing cricket
in streets using the lampposts as wickets as they tried to copy
their sporting heroes of the day such as Jack Hobbs and Wally
Hammond, two very successful professional players.
Golf and Tennis
Golf and Tennis
These two sports showed some of the biggest differences
between the rich and poor. Golf was played by wealthy men
who used the newly invented motor car to travel out to more
and more private golf clubs. However, it was ahead of the times
in the way it allowed amateurs and professionals to play
alongside each other and in the 1920s it even saw more women
taking up the sport.
These two sports showed some of the biggest differences
between the rich and poor. Golf was played by wealthy men
who used the newly invented motor car to travel out to more
and more private golf clubs. However, it was ahead of the times
in the way it allowed amateurs and professionals to play
alongside each other and in the 1920s it even saw more women
taking up the sport.
Lawn tennis was also a sport mainly for the rich with many
wealthy having courts in their back gardens. In order to
encourage more to play the game councils started to build a
number of grass and hard courts in local parks. In 1936 tennis
had a huge boost thanks to the sporting hero Fred Perry who
won Wimbledon three years in a row.
Lawn tennis was also a sport mainly for the rich with many
wealthy having courts in their back gardens. In order to
encourage more to play the game councils started to build a
number of grass and hard courts in local parks. In 1936 tennis
had a huge boost thanks to the sporting hero Fred Perry who
won Wimbledon three years in a row.