The history of sports life in Leeds is interesting and worthy of attention. Sport is something that has always united the local residents, gave them a sense of excitement, forced them to set a goal and win, to be persistent and surpass themselves. The residents of Leeds have always been quite sporty and active and this tradition has continued till nowadays. Learn more at ileeds.
As Mylearning.org notes, the city offers a wide variety of sports to fit any taste. Local adults and children have their hobbies, cheer for certain teams and participate in competitions. If we are talking about the history of sports development in the city, it is important to note that back in 1897, the first Rugby Football League Challenge Cup final was held at Leeds Headingley Stadium.
Professional sports in Leeds
When talking about the history of the sports sphere in Leeds, it is worth noting the fact that the city features the perfect conditions for the development of some professional sports. Thus, the residents achieved real success and awards in many of them. Leeds can rightfully be considered a sporty city and local professional athletes, amateurs and ordinary people who just like to keep themselves fit prove it.
Football
The local football team, Leeds United, was founded in 1919. It is one of the biggest clubs in British football. The club’s home stadium is Elland Road and it is distinguished by a large number of passionate fans. The stadium can accommodate more than 35,000 spectators.
Leeds United F.C. can boast of outstanding and talented players. Among them are Billy Bremner, Norman Hunter, Don Revie, Albert Johannsson, Rio Ferdinand and Lucas Radebe.
Another well-known city team is Farsley Celtic. This non-league club is based in Farsley, West Leeds. Its home games take place at the Throstle Nest stadium.
Leeds also can boast of actively developing women’s football. Local Leeds United Women F.C. is a member of the FA Women’s National League. They play their home games at the Bannister Prentice Stadium.
The given clubs aren’t the only ones existing in the city and supporting the development of national football. In general, we can conclude that Leeds has an active football life and local young talents often win championships of various levels.
Rugby
Rugby is one of the typical English sports, as it originated in this country in the 19th century. Leeds St John’s Rugby Club was formed in the city in 1895 and was later renamed Leeds Rhinos. This team is a city professional rugby league football club. It is considered one of the most impressive teams in the league.
The first rugby match took place on September 20, 1890. Since then, Leeds Rhinos has considered Headingley their home stadium and were training there. Over many years of its existence, the team has achieved considerable results, from Super League titles to notable victories over international rivals. Leeds Rhinos Club is the third among the leaders of the Rugby League in Great Britain. In addition, they won nine Championships and three World Club Challenges.
Besides, many members of the British Amateur Rugby League Association are based in Leeds as well. Local secondary schools also have their teams, as rugby is a very popular sport in the city.
Cricket
Cricket should also be mentioned among the most popular sports in Great Britain. Headingley Stadium is the home ground for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The club was founded in 1863 and began participating in international games in 1899. Having won a series of crushing victories, the team began to be considered one of the best in the world.
Headingley Stadium hosted three international matches in 2018, namely the England vs Pakistan Test match, the Royal London Women’s One-Day Cup between England and New Zealand and the England vs India One-Day Cup.
Boxing
Leeds can also be proud of its rich boxing history. The first officially recorded fight took place in this city in the 1830s. Since the 20th century, boxing matches have become more regular and have taken place in the Jewish Athletic Club.
In 1915, Leeds boxer Joe Fox became the champion of Great Britain in the bantamweight division. The athlete defeated boxer Jim Berry, ending the fight in the 18th round. Joe’s professional boxing career began at the Jewish Athletic Club in Leeds in 1909 when he was 21 years old. In 1921, Fox became the British featherweight champion.
In general, out of 147 fights, Joe won 73, lost 24 and drew 18. At the same time, the athlete knocked out the opponent 26 times. After a successful American tour, Joey retired from the sport in 1926. However, his name was forever inscribed in the history of British boxing.
The most famous Leeds boxer of modern times is Nicola Adams. She is rightfully considered one of the most outstanding sports figures in the city.
Diving
Deep-sea diving is another passion of local daredevils, so the city also has a diving club. In addition, Leeds can boast of some of the best diving spots in England. Athletes of the local club participated in the competitions as members of the Great Britain national team.
Jack Laugher and Chris Mears are considered Leeds diving stars. Jack and Chris won a gold medal in the three-metre synchronised diving at the 2016 Rio Olympics. It should be noted that it was the first time Great Britain won the gold medal in diving.
Amateur sports in Leeds
Leeds supports not only professional talents but also ordinary residents who don’t chase medals or achievements. They just love sports and want to test themselves. For example, Loiners like to have fun playing golf. The city gives them such an opportunity, creating public courts.
Thus, you can visit Roundhay Park to play golf on a nine-hole court against the backdrop of a beautiful forest. You can also choose Temple Newsam Estate, which also hosts a variety of sporting events. Interestingly, Leeds was the first European city to hold the Ryder Cup. Residents and guests of Leeds can also play golf on the legendary course at Moortown Golf Club.
Triathlon fans can test themselves on the same route as the Olympic champions. Leeds has been participating in the World Triathlon Championship Series since 2016. The above-mentioned route stretches from the picturesque Roundhay Park to the very heart of the city. It runs through the whole city and passes many city’s landmarks. This is a great opportunity to immerse in the atmosphere of an amazing sports event, try yourself and get unforgettable impressions.
Cycling is an ordinary thing for the residents of Leeds. This activity is mastered and loved by literally everyone here. The city has various routes and tracks for bicycle trips, which are accompanied by the scenery of wonderful local landscapes. Leeds also boasts of such facilities as the Bodington Cycle Circuit at The Brownlee Centre.
Given the city-wide passion for cycling, it’s no surprise that Leeds hosted the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2014 and has become a regular venue for international events since then.