Author: Ian Volans

14th May 202228th September 2023boxing, cricket, football, J.G. Chambers, rowing, rugby

John Graham Chambers & the FA Cup Final conundrum

In the 150 year history of the world’s oldest still-contested association football tournament, the second FA Cup final in 1873 was unusual […]

30th March 202229th February 2024athletics, boxing, J.G. Chambers, rowing, swimming

John Graham Chambers: the lifeboat conundrum

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was the official charity partner for the 2022 Boat Race. The Chiswick Lifeboat station, one of the […]

19th February 202228th September 2023athletics, J.G. Chambers, Olympics, rowing

Conundrums in the search for John Graham Chambers

Since I first posted on my research into the life of Queensberry Rules author John Graham Chambers, I have accumulated more than […]

24th March 201828th September 2023rowing

Boat Races for all

Mass participation on the Tideway While the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race grabs all the attention there are four other, much bigger, […]

22nd February 201828th September 2023football

The humble birthplace of soccer’s centre circle

Strutt Street, Derby Aficionados have an intuitive understanding of the fields of play of their favourite sports. Through television, pitch, court and […]

7th December 201728th September 2023athletics, boxing, football, J.G. Chambers, rowing, rugby, shooting, swimming, wrestling

Fleet Street’s sporting administrators

And a Sporting Landmark destroyed in the Blitz Many people bemoan what they see as the excessive influence television wields over sport, […]

17th July 201728th September 2023archery, athletics, boxing, cricket, cycling, football, Olympics, Paralympics, rugby, wrestling

Para Sport in 1870 London

The London Stadium, perhaps still better known as the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, hosted the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships between 14 […]

17th April 20179th January 2024boxing, cricket, golf, horse racing

How much history can you cram into a morning run?

This blog celebrates places, often forgotten, associated with individuals who made a mark on the history of sport.  In a slight diversion […]

15th March 201728th September 2023boxing, fencing, judo, Olympics, polo, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling

Stumbling upon sporting landmarks in London’s docklands

Visitors arriving at London’s Excel Centre by the Dockland Light Railway from the City usually alight at the Custom House station.  For the […]

18th September 201628th September 2023golf, tennis

Davis Cup visits birthplace of Ryder Cup

Great Britain won tennis’ Davis Cup in 2015 – the country’s first victory in 79 years. The compeition was conceived by four […]