Sport in Sussex
Sport in Sussex forms an important part of the
Sussex has often been an early adopter of sport for women; references to women playing cricket from 1677, and stoolball from 1747. Women were playing in a stoolball league in Sussex as early as the 1860s. In football, Brighton & Hove Albion's women's team was founded in 1967 as Brighton GPO, making the club one of the oldest extant football clubs in England fielding a women's team. Founded in 1969, the Sussex Martlets Women's League (replaced in 1990 by the South East Counties Women's League) was one of the earliest in England.
Active Sussex is the county sports partnership for Sussex and its main aim is to increase participation in sport and physical activity at a local level.[5]
Team sports
Cricket
Sussex played a key role in the development of the sport of cricket and is generally held to have been invented or developed in the Weald of Sussex and Kent. Records from 1611 indicate the first time that the sport was documented in Sussex; this is also the first reference to cricket being played by adults.[6] The first reference to women's cricket is also from Sussex and dates from 1677; a match between two Sussex women's teams playing in London is documented from 1747.
Founded in 1839, Sussex County Cricket Club (Sussex CCC) is believed to be the oldest professional sports club in the world.[7] It is the oldest of the county cricket clubs and represents Sussex in the eighteen-club County Championship. Sussex players, including Jem Broadbridge and William Lillywhite were instrumental in bringing about the change from underarm bowling to roundarm bowling, which later developed into overarm bowling. For some time roundarm bowling was referred to as 'Sussex bowling'.[8] Sussex CCC have won the men's County Championship three times, while the Sussex Women cricket team has won the women's County Championship four times.
Recreational cricket is also popular in Sussex and is governed by the Sussex Cricket Board, which merged with Sussex CCC in 2015. Founded in 1971, the Sussex Cricket League is believed to be the largest adult cricket league in the world, with 335 teams in 2018.[9] From 2016 the Sussex Cricket League has also included a team representing Guernsey. The England and Wales Cricket Board has recognised the league's top division as a designated ECB Premier League since 1999. Notable Sussex cricketers include Jem Broadbridge, John Wisden, James Lillywhite, former England women's captain Holly Colvin and former England international Clare Connor.
Football
There is a long tradition of football matches taking place in Sussex although the game was different from the modern codes of association football and rugby football. Two references to
Association rules were adopted at Lancing College by 1871 and at Brighton College by 1873. Former Lancing pupil
Sussex is represented in the
Rugby Union
The
American football
Based in Brighton, Sussex Thunder play in the British American Football Association's BAFA National Leagues.
Basketball
Playing in the
Hockey
East Grinstead Hockey Club enter teams in both the Men's and Women's England Hockey Leagues.
Netball
Netball is played by girls and women. In Sussex the sport is administered through the Sussex County Netball Association (often referred to as Sussex Netball).[20]
Polo
Stoolball
The sport of stoolball is strongly associated with Sussex; it has been referred to as Sussex's 'national' sport[22] and a Sussex game[23] or pastime.[24] The first inter-county stoolball match took place between the women of Sussex and Kent in 1797 at Tunbridge Wells Common on the historic border between the two counties.[25] Sussex women wore blue ribbons to represent the county.[25] In 1866 the first recorded stoolball match took place between teams of named women representing villages as the Glynde Butterflies took on the Firle Blues.[26]
The sport's modern rules were codified at Glynde in 1881 where the two slightly different sets of rules in the east and the west of Sussex were brought together.[27] Modern stoolball is centred on Sussex where the game was revived in the early 20th century by Major William Grantham.[28][29] First played in 1923, the League Championship Challenge Cup is open to the winning teams of the five leagues of the Sussex County Stoolball Association - North, East, West, Mid and Central.[30] Since 1938 Sussex and Kent have competed annually for the Rose Bowl, although sometimes one of Sussex's five leagues may represent the county against Kent.[25]
Individual sports
Archery
Archery in Sussex is administered by the Sussex County Archery Association[31] Notable archers include Margaret Weedon.
Athletics
Athletics in Sussex is governed by the Sussex County Athletics Association and all athletics clubs in the county are encouraged affiliate to the SCAA. The SCAA hosts the Sussex County Championships for track and field athletics each May as well as the Sussex Cross Country Championships each January.[32] Founded in 2010, the Brighton Marathon has grown to be one of the UK's largest marathons and in 2011 was granted Bronze Medal status by the World governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).[33][34][35] Withdean Stadium in Brighton is the county's main athletics stadium. Sussex athletes include Everard Davis, George Hutson, Steve Ovett, Sally Gunnell and Craig Pickering.
Bowls
The sport of bowls has a long history in Sussex.
Boxing
Boxing has a long history in Sussex. A contest on 18 December 1810 between
Cycling
Founded in 1921 the Sussex Cyclists' Association promotes races and competitions for members of cycling clubs in Sussex.[38] The London to Brighton Bike Ride has taken place every year since 1976. and in 2014 involved an estimated 30,000 riders. Built in 1877, the velodrome at Preston Park in Brighton is thought to be the oldest in the UK. Sussex featured in the 1994 Tour de France, which included a stage finish in Brighton. Sussex cyclists include William Hammond.
Equestrian events
Organised horse racing has existed in Sussex since at least as far back as the 18th century. There are racecourses at
Golf
Golf in the county is administered by the Sussex County Golf Union, which arranges county championships and tournaments as well as inter-county matches.[39] The PGA in Sussex (formerly known as the Sussex County PGA) was formed to run professional tournaments open to all PGA professionals and registered assistants, under the jurisdiction of the regulations of the PGA.[40] Established in 1912, the Sussex Professional Golfersโ Union continues to run in alliance with The PGA in Sussex (formerly known as the Sussex County PGA).[40] Established in Lewes in 1900, the Sussex County Ladies' Golf Club (now the Sussex County Ladies' Golf Association) has 60 affiliated clubs and nearly 4,300 members.[41] The county colours of canary yellow and blue were established in the 1960s.[41]
Sussex is home to over 60 golf clubs, including Dale Hill, Pulborough, Royal Ashdown Forest, Rye, Worthing and the East Sussex National, which hosted the European Open in the 1990s. There are over 200 PGA professionals and registered assistants in Sussex.[40] The first Sussex clubs were Royal Eastbourne, Seaford and Brighton were established in 1887.[41] Brighton and Hove Ladies' Golf Club was established in 1891. Golfers based in Sussex include Open Championship winner Max Faulkner, Gary Evans, Ben Evans and two-time European Tour winner Jamie Spence from the Nevill Golf Club near the Kent border.[40][42]
Motorsport
Sussex is home to the
Real tennis
The sport of
Snooker
Snooker players from Sussex include Mark Davis.
Swimming
The Sussex County Amateur Swimming Association or Sussex County ASA represents the interests of affiliated swimmers across Sussex..
Tennis
Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne has hosted tennis championships since 1874 and has held a women's championship since 1974 and is one of the Women's Tennis Association's Premier tournaments. From 1881 to 1972 Devonshire Park was also home to the South of England Championships. The 1981 ATP Challenger Series featured tournaments at Worthing and Chichester.
Leslie Godfree won the Wimbledon doubles in 1923 and the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 1926. Wimbledon and Australian Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta lives in Eastbourne. The Sussex County Tennis Association are responsible for development of tennis in the county.[45]
Major sports facilities
Football
With a capacity of 30,750, Falmer Stadium was built into the South Downs and has the largest capacity of any sports stadium in Sussex. It is followed by Broadfield Stadium in Crawley, which has a capacity of 6,134.
Cricket
The main home of Sussex cricket since 1872, the County Cricket Ground in Hove has a capacity of 7,000 and is the third largest sports stadium in Sussex after Falmer Stadium and the centre court at Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne.
Golf courses
The East Sussex National Golf Club in Little Horsted has hosted the European Open (golf) twice in the 1990s. Hill Barn Golf Club in Worthing hosted the Penfold Tournament, part of the European Tour in 1969, 1970 and 1974.
Tennis
The Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne first opened in 1874 and its centre court has a capacity of 8,000,[46] making it one of the largest tennis stadiums in the world and the second largest sports stadium in Sussex.
Athletics
Withdean Stadium in Brighton is the largest athletics stadium in Sussex. Home to Brighton and Hove Albion between 1999 and 2011 it once had a capacity of 8,850 people, although this capacity has now been reduced.
Major sporting events hosted in Sussex
Below is a list of international sporting events that have been held in Sussex at various venues
Cricket
- International
- Cricket World Cup host town: Hove
Rugby Union
- International
- Rugby World Cup host town: Brighton
Golf
- Penfold Tournament, part of the European Tour: 1969, 1970 and 1974: Hill Barn Golf Club, Worthing
- European Open: 1993, 1994: East Sussex National Golf Resort and Spa, Little Horsted
Tennis
- Eastbourne International - since 1974: Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne
- Fed Cup- 1977: Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne
Bowls
- International
- World Bowls Championshipshost town: Worthing - 2
Marbles
The British and World Marbles Championship takes place annually on Good Friday at the Greyhound public house in Tinsley Green, West Sussex. It dates back to 1588, the modern event having run almost continuously since 1932.
See also
References
- ^ "Arundel Castle | UK Tourist Information from History-Tourist.com | Your one stop webpage for all your vacation needs in Britain". Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
- ^ "Arundel Castle | England | Cricket Grounds | ESPNcricinfo.com".
- ^ a b Harvey, Adrian (2005). Football: The First Hundred Years: The Untold Story. Abingdon: Routledge.
- ^ a b "About the Sussex County Football League". Sussex County Football League. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ "Active Sussex - About". Active Sussex. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ McCann 2004, p. xxxi
- ^ "The 1st Central County Ground". Sussex Cricket. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ "The 'round-arm' revolution in English cricket". 8 May 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "How Sussex's cricket league has become a world record-breaker". 1 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ^ Marples, Morris (1954). A History of Football, Secker and Warburg, London, p36
- ^ a b c Harvey 2013, p. 39
- ^ a b c Harvey 2013, p. 40
- ^ a b c d Morris 2016
- ^ "The History of Brighton Football Club (RFU) 1868". Brighton Football Club (RFU). Retrieved 14 April 2017.
- ^ "About the Sussex County Football League". Sussex County Football League. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ Scott, Anthony (4 March 2015). "Sussex County Football League to change name to Southern Combination Football League". Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "Sussex RFU". The Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ "Sussex RFU Home". Sussex Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ "Basketball Sussex".
- ^ "Welcome to Sussex Netball". Sussex Netball. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ Gilmour, Rod (29 June 2015). "Polo Gold Cup 2015: all you need to know about Cowdray Park and British polo's revered event". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ Coates 2010, p. 79
- ^ Gomme 1894, p. 219
- ^ Locke 2011, p. 203
- ^ a b c "Matterface Cup and Veterans Cup 2008". 28 July 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "The Glynde Butterflies 1866-1887". Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ Collins 2005, p. 251
- ^ Locke 2011, p. 203
- ^ Nauright 2012, p. 194
- ^ "Sussex County Stoolball Association League Championship, 2014 Season". Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "About SCAA". Sussex County Archery Association. 10 April 2016.
- ^ "About the SCAA". Sussex Athletics. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ^ "The Brighton Marathon, London by the Sea", www.brightonmarathon.co.uk/, 18 April 2010
- ^ Steve Hollis "Olympian wins inaugural Brighton Marathon", www.theargus.co.uk, 18 April 2010
- ^ D.D. Guttenplan "Brighton marathon a match for Boston", The Guardian (Comment is Free), 20 April 2010
- ^ Parkes, Pamela (22 June 2014). "Boxing: When a Freed Slave Fought a Sporting Star". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ Jackson, Ron. "Belts Go Back Almost 200 Years". SuperSport. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Sussex Cyclists' Association - Association History". Sussex Cyclists' Association. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "County Info". Sussex Golf Union. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d "The PGA in Sussex - About Us". The Professional Golfers' Association. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ a b c Williams, Sheila. "A History of Ladies' Golf in Sussex". Sussex County Ladies' Golf Association. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "Nevill Golf Club". Nevill Golf Club. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "History of the Court". Petworth House Tennis Court. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "About Us". Sussex County Amateur Swimming Association. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Sussex Tennis - About Us". Lawn Tennis Association. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ "Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club". Eastbourne Tennis. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
Bibliography
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- Coates, Richard (2010). The Traditional Dialect of Sussex. Pomegranate Press. ISBN 978-1-907242-09-0.
- Collins, Tony, ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of Traditional British Rural Sports. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415352246.
- Gomme, Alice Bertha (1894). The traditional games of England, Scotland and Ireland : with tunes, singing rhymes and methods of playing according to the variants extant and recorded in different parts of the kingdom. London: David Nutt.
- Harvey, Adrian (2013). Football: The First Hundred Years: The Untold Story. Routledge. ISBN 9781134269129.
- Locke, Tim (2011). Slow Sussex and the South Downs. Buckinghamshire: Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781841623436.
- McCann, Tim (2004). Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century. Sussex Record Society.
- Morris, Terry (2016). Vain Games of No Value?: A Social History of Association Football in Britain During Its First Long Century. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1504998529.
- Nauright, John (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1598843002.