GALLERY | Talking Sport

WORKSHOPS

For the project we undertook several workshops in Newham, at St. Bonaventure's school and at the Ambition, Achieve, Aspire (A.A.A.) project based at the Terence Brown Arc In The Park, a selection of photos from which can be seen below.

THE ARCHIVE

As well as collecting oral histories, another important aspect of our archive is our collection of photographs and memorabilia donated to us by those whom we interview and collaborate with on projects. Below is a selection of photographs and memorabilia donated to the Talking Sport project, as well as various other images taken from our archive depicting the history of sport in Newham and the surrounding area. Click on an image to find out more.

London 2012 The observations made in the Talking Sport project seek to present an image of the history of sport in East London. The Olympic Games that took place in 2012 marked a historical shift from grassroots, community-lead initiatives to major investment into and regenerative activities around sport in the East End, as evidenced at this event hosted by Newham Council in 2004.	London 2012 From the early 2000's local councils sought to prove that the area possessed both a rich sporting heritage and exciting present capable and appropriate for such an occasion as the Olympics and it's legacy. Events such as this, hosted by Newham Council in 2004, sought to showcase this aspect of East London in an (eventually successful) attempt to win the bid the following year.	London 2012 With it's base in the East End, the Olympic bid aimed to transport sport across the entirety of the city.
London 2012 This plot of land in Stratford was chosen as the area for the centerpiece of the Games: the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Through this gallery we present photos taken from our archive or donated to the project that showcase the heritage upon which the Olympic bid (and eventually it's legacy) was built.	Kamal Chunchie Founder of The Coloured Men's Institute in Canning Town, Kamal Chunchie, enjoying a game of cricket during the 1920s. Chunchie used sport as part of his incredible organisation to help integrate minority communities into the East End.	Kamal Chunchie A cricketing team of mixed heritage formed by Chunchie during the 1920s - a very rare sight for the time.
Street Sport in East London Children play football at Warrior Square in Ilford c.2000.	Street Sport in East London Children play football at Warrior Square in Ilford c.2000.	Street Sport In East London A game of football in progress in Ilford, c.2000.
Street Sport In East London A group of young people showboat and pose for the camera mid-game in Ilford, c.2000.	Street Sport in East London Two youngsters pause from play to pose for a photograph in Ilford, c.2000.	Street Sport in East London A game of basketball in progress in Ilford, c.2000.
The Boxing Project Back in 2001/2 'The Boxing Project' looked at the East End's fascination with one of the country's oldest sports. Here, docker and amateur boxer Eddie Birkett takes a punch just as he lands one during the 1960s.	The Boxing Project Not just a fighter himself, Birkett also spent his time training up the next generation of boxers, seen here in an article in the Stratford Express, c.1960s.	Youth Boxing Donated to Talking Sport by Don Adams, this photograph depicts him and his fellow amateur boxers posing (seemingly in quite cold weather) for a photograph.
Peacock Gym Training in progress at the renowned Peacock Gym in Canning Town, c.2001.	Peacock Gym Peacock Gym, c. 2001.	Poplar Blackwall and District Rowing Sport, much like it is today, has always played a prominent role in charity. Here the Poplar Blackwall and District Rowing Club practice to raise money for a disabled children's charity in the 1960s.
Fun Runs Fun runs, marathons, half-marathons... running both for recreation and for charity remain, and have for a long time, been a popular part of East End sporting culture.	Teviot Festival The timetable for the annual Teviot Festival held in Langdon Park on Bright Street, on the weekend of 26-27 June, 1976. Events included were several games of football, a judo display and of course a tug-o-war - an event still including in the Summer Olympic programme from 1900 to 1920.	Teviot Festival The rules and regulations (some more serious that others) laid out in the festival programme for the Womens' Football tournament.
Teviot Festival Boys Football: Senrab vs Heath Park Juniors	Teviot Festival The womens' 5-a-side team strike a pose before the game.	Teviot Festival "Womens' 5-aside Football" in action.
Teviot Festival Another great action shot from the womens' 5-a-side match.	Gymnastics Gymnastics will seemingly always be a popular activity for school age children, seen here in the playground of a Bethnal Green school during the inter-war period.	Drew Road School Back in 2002 we conducted a project on the history of Drew Road School in Silvertown - opened to educate the children of the dockers who worked nearby. As in most schools sport and recreation played a significant role - as seen in the following photographs.
Drew Road School Sports Day is always a highlight on a school's calendar. Here scores of parents line up to watch their children compete in various events.	Drew Road School The victorious Drew Road squad from the 1964-5 Lyle Park Cup, adorned in a number of football jerseys including those of Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham.	2002_esch_nowo_P01_01
Don Adams 001 One can't examine the history of sport in the East End without addressing the monolith that is West Ham United Football Club. Eastside have engaged in several projects directly related to the club with many more drifting into territory of the 'The Hammers'. This photo was donated to the Talking Sport project by Don Adams - a huge West Ham fan - as the Boleyn Ground fills up on match day.	West Ham In this picture, we see a snapshot of a transitional time in the sporting history of East London, as West Ham's traditional home the Boleyn Ground is shut for redevelopment. The club have now found their new home at the former Olympic Stadium in Stratford, re-branded as the London Stadium. This has caused a lot of controversy among fans and the wider community, who see the Olympic legacy and wider redevelopment of the East End as detrimental to our sporting and cultural heritage.	West Ham The culture and businesses that grow around sport are often just as important to the community as the game itself. The Boleyn Pub, opened in 1900, has suffered loss of business since the move to Stratford. In 2018 the ownership were forced to sell the pub to new landlords. Here it is a prior to the final game at the Boleyn in May 2016.
West Ham Another business to have suffered from the changes in the West Ham area was Nathan's Pie & Mash. Pie & Mash is has massive historical cultural associations with East London, and is therefore closely associated with West Ham fans. After some eighty years of business Nathan's was forced to shut in 2018. Pictured are West Ham fans queuing for a meal prior to the final game at the Boleyn Ground.	West Ham With an incredibly rich history of producing great players born locally, West Ham gained the nickname of The Academy Of Football. One of the club's greatest products was England's World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore. Born in Barking, the prodigous talent passed away aged just 51 in 1993, instigated an outpouring of grief as hundreds of fans flocked to the stadium to show their respect.	West Ham A symbolic image of Bobby Moore's close relationship with the fans, as he holds out the F.A. Cup trophy for West Ham fans to touch on an open-top bus parade around the local area, c.May, 1964.
West Ham A flowered mural to remember Bobby Moore.	West Ham Such was his renown not just among supporters of West Ham but other fans of East End clubs, such as Leyton Orient came to show their respect, as well as items from as far afield as Oldham, Middlesbrough and Bordeaux, France.	Canning Town A game of football taking place in Canning Town in the summer of 2003.
Canning Town A game of football taking place in Canning Town in the summer of 2003.	The Regatta The many canals that wind their way out from the Thames into East London lend themselves to a variety of water sports, one of the most popular of which is rowing. Here we have an excellent photgraph from the regatta at Connaught Bridge in Clapton, c. June, 1944.	Barking Park Another location where rowing gained popularity was Barking Park, where Barking Rowing Park trained for competitions. Here two women pose with their oars, c.1958.
Barking Park On the water, c.1958.	Barking Park Until 1988 Barking Park was also home to a popular lido. Here revelers take a dip, c.1947.	Barking Park Hockey also has a popular history in the East London area, with this team posing for a photo in Barking Park, c.1958.
North Woolwich North Woolwich is an area that's heritage we frequently build projects around. This wonderful book, documenting the history of the area, was donated to us in 2003. It contains many fantastic pictures and explanations of sport that once occurred in the area.	North Woolwich North Woolwich is an area that's heritage we frequently build projects around. This wonderful book, documenting the history of the area, was donated to us in 2003. It contains many fantastic pictures and explanations of sport that once occurred in the area.	North Woolwich North Woolwich is an area that's heritage we frequently build projects around. This wonderful book, documenting the history of the area, was donated to us in 2003. It contains many fantastic pictures and explanations of sport that once occurred in the area.
North Woolwich North Woolwich is an area that's heritage we frequently build projects around. This wonderful book, documenting the history of the area, was donated to us in 2003. It contains many fantastic pictures and explanations of sport that once occurred in the area.	North Woolwich Newham Boys F.C., champions of Essex in 1967, pose for a team photograph. This photograph was donated to us in 2003.	North Woolwich During the time of the 2003 project we also were able to visit a local youth group, where football continued to prove ever-popular (among both children and police officers).
North Woolwich For many however, playing football isn't quite as practical as it once was. Bowls remains a popular sport among more senior members of the North Woolwich community. (c.2003)	North Woolwich One little-known but incredible piece of East End sporting history, is that post-WW2 a connection was struck up between the River Hawks Boys Club and German football club Sportsfunde Oestriche '49, who played each other several times during the 1950s - as telling sign as ever of the global power of sport as mediator.	Speedway Whilst the 'Hammers' as football team put the East End on the map worldwide, perhaps a slightly less known 'Hammers' historically incredibly important to sports fans in the area were the West Ham Hammers. The above photograph comes from a project we undertook in 2012.
Speedway This photograph, kindly donated to the Talking Sport project, shows a small portion of the sizable crowd that speedway races would amass.	Speedway Indeed the history of Speedway in the area goes back some way. Here is an excellent photo of a race in action at the West Ham Stadium, c.1940.	Memorial Grounds Prior to the commencing of speedway as a sport in 1923, bicycle racing was also hugely popular in the East End and indeed continues to be a sport Great Britain excel at in the present day. This photograph is taken from 1903 at the Memorial Grounds, the stadium that West Ham F.C. played their games at until they moved to the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park in 1904.
Football it wasn't just men who were playing football in the East End during the early 20th century. Here Maud Smith intercepts a pass whilst playing for Sterling Ladies FC in Ilford on the 6th of May, 1918.	Football Prior to the match, the captains of Sterling Ladies FC and Forest Gate Ladies FC pose for a photograph with a young girl carrying the match ball, c.1918.	Football Fast forward almost a hundred years later, as members of Leyton Orient Women's Football Club pose together in 2016.
Newham Town Show On the 3rd of June 2007, almost two years after the Olympic bid had been won, the borough of Newham was already gearing itself up for the Olympics with the 'Newham Town Show' - a display of the borough's cultural and sporting prowess.	Newham Town Show A number of sporting events and activities were arranged for local young people including table-tennis...	Newham Town Show ...martial arts...
Newham Town Show ...fencing...	Newham Town Show and climbing, amongst others.	London 2012 Opening Ceremony Crowds approach the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony on the 25th of July, 2012.
London 2012 Opening Ceremony The crowd has taken it's place...	London 2012 Opening Ceremony The Olympic Games, as well as it's legacy: the future of sport for Great Britain and for East London, has begun.