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Edwardian Sports
The birth of Match of the Day? Not exactly, but Mitchell and Kenyon were pioneers in filming sporting events.
Sport was a booming industry in the early 20th Century, and one undergoing great changes. Covered stadiums emerged in place of banks of mud, while audiences - overwhelmingly male - grew to fill them, on the back of increasing leisure time. The presence of film cameras may have helped fuel sport's increasing professionalism. Over 60 different sporting events feature in the Mitchell and Kenyon collection, mostly football and rugby, but also athletics, cricket, cycling, horse racing and rowing. Highlights include the earliest known footage of Manchester United and the first Merseyside derby on film, plus a cricketing controversy and glimpses of early Rugby League. Mitchell and Kenyon weren't historians - their interest was to film as much of the crowd as possible, to draw paying customers to later screenings. But thanks to them, we're left with a priceless and evocative record of sport's emergence as the mass entertainment we know today. Digitisation of this collection was funded by The National Lottery.
Hull F.C. v Hull Kingston Rovers (1902)Hull F.C. v Hull Kingston Rovers (1902)
Non-Fiction19024 minsSilent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Rugby arch rivals lock horns in Hull.
Leeds Lifeboat Procession and Sports at Roundhay Park (1902)Leeds Lifeboat Procession and Sports at Roundhay Park (1902)
Non-Fiction190119 minsSilent Location: Leeds
Jolly japes and jumping in the lake - it's the water carnival in Leeds on Lifeboat Day.
Leeds Athletic and Cycling Club Carnival at Headingley (1902)Leeds Athletic and Cycling Club Carnival at Headingley (1902)
Non-Fiction19027 minsSilent Location: Headingley
Athletes and acrobats wow the crowds at the annual Cycling Club carnival.
Great Local Derby, Accrington v Church Cricket Match (1902)Great Local Derby, Accrington v Church Cricket Match (1902)
Non-Fiction19025 minsSilent Location: Accrington
Rare film record of an Edwardian local league cricket game between two Lancashire sides.
Arthur Mold Bowling to A.N. Hornby (1901)Arthur Mold Bowling to A.N. Hornby (1901)
Non-Fiction19019 minsSilent Location: Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Did he bowl or did he throw? A fascinating record of an early cricketing controversy.
Champion Athletes at Birmingham (1902)Champion Athletes at Birmingham (1902)
Non-Fiction190212 minsSilent Location: Birmingham
Crowds enjoying the spectacle at Birmingham Athletics Club.
Burnley v Manchester United (1902)Burnley v Manchester United (1902)
Non-Fiction19022 minsSilent Location: Burnley
First-ever footage of Manchester United in a tense Edwardian football fixture.
Calisthenics (c.1905)Calisthenics (c.1905)
Non-Fiction19007 minsSilent
A truly impressive exhibition of calisthenics from two teams of girls - perhaps an early talent contest?
Final of International Cup at Cork Regatta (1902)Final of International Cup at Cork Regatta (1902)
Non-Fiction19002 minsSilent
Scenes from the summer final between the Leander and Berlin rowing clubs.
Race for the Muratti Cup at Manchester Wheelers' Annual Meet (1901)Race for the Muratti Cup at Manchester Wheelers' Annual Meet (1901)
Non-Fiction190115 minsSilent Location: Manchester
Exciting scenes of amateur cycling's 'Race of Champions' at Manchester's Fallowfield track.
Everton v Liverpool (1902)Everton v Liverpool (1902)
Non-Fiction19025 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
The earliest surviving Merseyside derby on film catches two of Everton's goals in a 3-1 home win.
AAA Championships at Fartown, Huddersfield (1901)AAA Championships at Fartown, Huddersfield (1901)
Non-Fiction19014 minsSilent Location: Fartown Ground, Huddersfield
The annual championship meeting of England's premier athletics association.
Dewsbury v Manningham (1901)Dewsbury v Manningham (1901)
Non-Fiction19015 minsSilent Location: Dewsbury
Rare film of Manningham FC's days as a rugby club, in a hard-fought contest at Dewsbury's Crown Flatt ground.
Ambush II at Eyrefield Lodge, The Curragh (1902)Ambush II at Eyrefield Lodge, The Curragh (1902)
Non-Fiction19024 minsSilent
The 1900 Grand National winner at home with his trainer in County Kildare
Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United (1907)Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United (1907)
Non-Fiction19072 minsSilent Location: Ewood Park, Blackburn
An Edwardian First Division football match played at Blackburn's Ewood Park Stadium.
Blackburn v... (1904)Blackburn v... (1904)
Non-Fiction19040 minsSilent Location: Ewood Park, Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers play at home at Ewood Park to an unidentified team in an Edwardian football fixture.
Bolton v Burton United (c.1904)Bolton v Burton United (c.1904)
Non-Fiction19042 minsSilent Location: Burnden Park, Bolton
Bolton Wanderers overpower the shortlived Burton United at Burnden Park under rainy skies.
Bradford City v Gainsborough Trinity (1903)Bradford City v Gainsborough Trinity (1903)
Non-Fiction19039 minsSilent Location: Valley Parade, Bradford
Bradford City's first ever home league game after switching from rugby to football in 1903.
Cambridge University Sportsday (1903)Cambridge University Sportsday (1903)
Non-Fiction19033 minsSilent Location: Cambridge
Cambridge undergrads reach new heights!
Crews Practising on River Lee at Cork Regatta (1902)Crews Practising on River Lee at Cork Regatta (1902)
Non-Fiction19021 minsSilent
Edwardian oarsmen get some last minute practice in before the big race.
England v Ireland at Manchester (1905)England v Ireland at Manchester (1905)
Non-Fiction19052 minsSilent Location: Manchester
An Edwardian contest between teams representing the English and Irish Football Leagues, with plenty of goal-line action.
Everton v Newcastle United (1902)Everton v Newcastle United (1902)
Non-Fiction19028 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
The camera is a welcome distraction to the spectators of a home defeat at Goodison Park.
Everton v Newcastle United (1903)Everton v Newcastle United (1903)
Non-Fiction19033 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
None of the goals but plenty of action in a 4-1 home win to Everton.
Halifax v Salford (1901)Halifax v Salford (1901)
Non-Fiction19013 minsSilent Location: Halifax
A rugby league game shows the sport in transition, on a bitterly cold day.
Hull City Football (c.1905)Hull City Football (c.1905)
Non-Fiction19053 minsSilent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Hull City football club plays a friendly match in their inaugural season.
Hull F.C. v Wigan (1902)Hull F.C. v Wigan (1902)
Non-Fiction19022 minsSilent Location: Kingston upon Hull
A misty afternoon's rugby match draws a large crowd.
Hunslet v Leeds (1901)Hunslet v Leeds (1901)
Non-Fiction19014 minsSilent Location: Hunslet
A less-than-serious Leeds team take a four-goals-and-two-tries battering from Hunslet.
Moss Street v St Philips Football (1907)Moss Street v St Philips Football (1907)
Non-Fiction19072 minsSilent Location: Blackburn
Schoolboy footballers fight it out at Ewood Park.
Manchester Races (1902)Manchester Races (1902)
Non-Fiction19023 minsSilent Location: Manchester
Spectators enjoy a day at the races in Edwardian Manchester.
Northern Union Challenge Cup Final - Halifax v Salford (1903)Northern Union Challenge Cup Final - Halifax v Salford (1903)
Non-Fiction19032 minsSilent Location: Leeds
An Edwardian Rugby League final pits Lancashire against Yorkshire.
Kingston Rowing Club at Practice (1902)Kingston Rowing Club at Practice (1902)
Non-Fiction19024 minsSilent Location: Stoneferry
A delightful day out on the water as Edwardian rowers mess about on the River Hull.
Liverpool v Small Heath (1901)Liverpool v Small Heath (1901)
Non-Fiction19011 minsSilent Location: Liverpool
Early league football, with the team who will become Birmingham City losing at Anfield in a relegation year.
Manchester to Blackpool Road Race (1903)Manchester to Blackpool Road Race (1903)
Non-Fiction19032 minsSilent Location: Blackpool
Over a hundred Edwardian athletes gather for a gruelling walking race.
Newcastle United v Liverpool (1901)Newcastle United v Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction19017 minsSilent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
An Edwardian football match at Newcastle's St James' Park ground.
Notts County v Middlesbrough (1902)Notts County v Middlesbrough (1902)
Non-Fiction19027 minsSilent Location: Nottingham
The game is held up for the camera to do a full tour of the cheering crowds at Trent Bridge, Notts County's home until 1910.
Oldham v Swinton (1901)Oldham v Swinton (1901)
Non-Fiction19013 minsSilent Location: Oldham
The evolution of Rugby League in a top of the table match between rival Lancashire clubs.
Preston North End v Aston Villa (1905)Preston North End v Aston Villa (1905)
Non-Fiction19052 minsSilent Location: Preston
Early football giants Preston and Villa face up in an epic Edwardian contest.
Preston North End v Notts County (1904)Preston North End v Notts County (1904)
Non-Fiction19052 minsSilent Location: Preston
Preston triumph at Deepdale in an Edwardian contest between two of England's oldest football teams.
Preston North End v Wolverhampton Wanderers (1904)Preston North End v Wolverhampton Wanderers (1904)
Non-Fiction19045 minsSilent Location: Preston
The Lillywhites take on the Wolves at Deepdale, watched by a large crowd and the club mascot.
Rotherham Town v Thornhill (1902)Rotherham Town v Thornhill (1902)
Non-Fiction19022 minsSilent Location: Rotherham
A ropey pitch and worse goalkeeping in a typical non-league football derby in Edwardian Yorkshire.
Runcorn v St Helens (1901)Runcorn v St Helens (1901)
Non-Fiction19012 minsSilent Location: Runcorn
Runcorn, Lancashire Senior Competition winners in 1900 and third in 1901, face a fierce challenge from visiting St Helens.
Salford v Batley (1901)Salford v Batley (1901)
Non-Fiction19018 minsSilent Location: Salford
Batley go down to Lancashire rivals Salford in the very first season of the Northern Rugby League.
Sheffield United v Bury (1902)Sheffield United v Bury (1902)
Non-Fiction19022 minsSilent Location: Sheffield
Sparkling images of fans and players at an Edwardian fixture at Sheffield's Bramall Lane.
Sports Day at Queen's College Ground, Cork (1902)Sports Day at Queen's College Ground, Cork (1902)
Non-Fiction19022 minsSilent
Crowds gather on a sunny Saturday to watch sports including running, jumping and cycling.
St Helens v Swinton (1901)St Helens v Swinton (1901)
Non-Fiction19011 minsSilent Location: St Helens
The crowds at Knowsley Road await a Rugby league match between the Saints and the Lions.
Sunderland v Leicester Fosse (1907)Sunderland v Leicester Fosse (1907)
Non-Fiction19077 minsSilent Location: Sunderland
A resounding win for Sunderland in the FA Cup, urged on by an enthusiastic band.
Sunderland v Middlesbrough (1904)Sunderland v Middlesbrough (1904)
Non-Fiction19041 minsSilent Location: Sunderland
A hard-fought North East derby in the Edwardian First Division.
Trotting Match at Springfield Park, Wigan (1904)Trotting Match at Springfield Park, Wigan (1904)
Non-Fiction19047 minsSilent Location: Springfield Park
Edwardian spectators and bookies enjoy an exciting day of horse racing.
Two-Oared Boat Race, Sunday's Well, Cork (1902)Two-Oared Boat Race, Sunday's Well, Cork (1902)
Non-Fiction19021 minsSilent
Oarsmen compete along the River Lee in early 20th century Cork.
Wales v Ireland at Wrexham (1906)Wales v Ireland at Wrexham (1906)
Non-Fiction19063 minsSilent Location: Wrexham/Wrecsam
International football action in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Wrexham.
Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa (1904)Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa (1904)
Non-Fiction19042 minsSilent Location: Ewood Park, Blackburn
The entry of the teams and action from both halves of an Edwardian football game at Ewood Park.
Warrington v St. Helens (1901)Warrington v St. Helens (1901)
Non-Fiction19012 minsSilent Location: Warrington
Match action and scenes of an Edwardian rugby crowd at Warrington's Wilderspool stadium.
Water Polo Match (c.1901)Water Polo Match (c.1901)
Non-Fiction19011 minsSilent
A team demonstrate their skills in the increasingly popular sport of water polo.
Burnley Football (1903)Burnley Football (1903)
Non-Fiction19032 minsSilent Location: Turf Moor
A large and lively crowd watches an Edwardian Second Division football match at Burnley's Turf Moor ground.
Bolton Football 2 (c.1900)Bolton Football 2 (c.1900)
Non-Fiction19001 minsSilent Location: Burnden Park, Bolton
Spectral images of a football match at Bolton's Burnden Park.