Sports History

Jun 7, 20244 min read

The 'Royal Sport' - Cockfighting in Newcastle

The once popular blood sport of cockfighting was especially widespread in the north of England prior to its legal ban in the...

Apr 4, 20245 min read

Gone to the Dogs: A History of Flapping in the North East

"Going to the dogs" was an integral stitch in the social fabric of mining communities. Independent, or "flapping" tracks, congregated the...

Dec 28, 20237 min read

Try Again: An Early History of Tyneside Rugby League

The late 19th century on Tyneside saw the emergence of ball sports as the predominant pastime, leaving rowing and wrestling in the...

Nov 27, 202218 min read

Home Sweet Home: The Story of Blyth Spartans' Croft Park

Graham Usher, a lifelong Spartans fan, explores the extensive history of the team and their home patches from their inception in 1899....