KEYWORDS: SPORTS, GAMES

Twice a week for sixty years Pathe usually featured a sports story in the newsreel. From our famous colour footage of the 1966 World Cup to ladies tug-o-war, we had it covered. We have thousands of stories about the following sports:

Motor Racing (Grand Prix, Le Mans, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Indi 500 etc), Cricket (Test Matches, County Matches etc), Open Golf, Boxing, Football (FA Cup, Internationals etc), Motor Cycling (Isle of Man), Cycling (Track, Road and Cross Country), Tennis (Davis Cup, Wimbledon), Rowing (Henley, Varsity), Horse Racing (Derby, Grand National, Gold Cup, Ascot), Athletics, Gymnastics, Horse Trials (Badminton), Rugby Union, Rugby League, Ski Jumping, Tug of War, Bowling (inc Ten Pin), Speedway, Hydroplane Racing, Highland Games, Fencing, "Road Bowling", Shooting, Kendo, Archery, Lacrosse, Baseball, Swimming, Netball, Ice Hockey, Polo, Walking, Hockey, Sculling, Curling, Hurling, Gaelic Football, Punting, Sailing (Cowes), Bobsleigh, Trotting, Hill Climbing, Diving, Squash, Figure Skating, Snooker, Wrestling, Table Tennis, Thai Kick Boxing, Fishing, Angling, Archery…

There are over 300 FA Cup matches alone in the archive…

The British were also peculiarly obsessed with games during the Pathe era. Here are just a few featured in the newsreel:

Eton Wall Game, Marbles, "autoball", Darts, Twister, Pony Games, Table Football, Musical Chairs, Party Games, Indoor Golf, "Water Jousting", "Turf Riding", Billiards, Cards, Swingball, Water Skiing, Ten Pin Bowling, "Pushball", Log Rolling, Chess, Bridge, Bowling, Gymkhana, Skittles, "Knur & Spell", Quoits, "Snareball", "Pelote", Horseshoe pitching, "throwing the hood"…

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

UN 1E: "CRICKET GIANTS OF THE 1890s" (including Grace, Ranji and Lord Hawe)
G 977: "WEMBLEY FA CUP (The first Wembley Final in 1923, famous for a white police horse…)
G 1238: "INCOMPARABLE SUZANNE" (1920s French tennis star Suzanne Lenglen in action)
32/22: "THE HARDEST OF LUCK" (1932 Man City introduce themselves including Matt Busby!)
33/14: "THE THIRD TEST" (Bodyline Ashes)
34/55: "WINNERS BOTH" (English man and woman win Wimbledon)
36/2: "RUGBY INTERNATIONAL" (Prince Obolensky scores one of the greatest tries ever…)
PSP 74: "JACK HOBBS, THE WORLD FAMOUS CRICKETER"
47/49: "WHAT'S WRONG WITH BRITISH SPORT" (1947 era moaning!)
52/36: "ABA BOXING" (including the 17 year old Henry Cooper)
"COME OUT TO PLAY" (Short 1950s documentary about the importance of playgrounds for kids)
EP 27: "TABLE FOOTBALL" (an amazingly complex 1920s version is showcased)
43/14: "CANDLEMAS BALL GAME" (the town of Deadborough becomes a battleground!)
EP 178: "KEEP COOL" (Firemen use hoses to play football)
EP198: "UP IN THE AIR" (20s volleyball with a balloon and no hands!)
52/67: "KICK OFF!" (John Arlott discusses the new football season)
54/26: "100th BOAT RACE"
54/35: "FOUR MINUTE MILE"
56/25: "THE GRAND NATIONAL" (the year that Devon Loch fell)
57/82: "RYDER CUP VICTORY" (when it was GB vs USA)
CP 155: "BALLET TRAINING FOR ATHLETES"
61/26: "BRITISH CYCLIST WINS" (Tommy Simpson wins in France)
61/88: "STAN COMES BACK" (Stanley Matthews returns to play for Stoke City at 46)
66/61: "WORLD CUP - MIGHTY ENGLAND" (Pathe's Colour coverage of the 1966 Cup Final)
68/45: "MANCHESTER UNITED WIN EUROPEAN CUP" (one of the best football matches ever)

KEYWORDS: SPORTS, GAMES