Welcome to the BSSH

Welcome to the British Society of Sports History. Since our foundation in 1982, our purpose has been to promote the study of sport – both in Britain and in the rest of the world. Our work includes activities as diverse as the encouragement of research within and beyond academic settings, support for the preservation of the sporting record, collaboration with the museum and heritage sector, promotion of the study of the history of sport in higher and further education as well as by those in secondary school, and engagement with the broader public media.

We organise an annual conference, which is renowned for being a friendly, supportive environment to present research. We also publish the journal Sport in History, and run a variety of virtual and in-person events, including our seminar at the IHR in London. We are especially keen to support postgraduates, early career researchers, and independent researchers, and to build links with other social history groups.

The BSSH has members across the world, both academic and non-academic, and we welcome anyone with an interest in the history of sport.

If you’d like to find out more about us, then do explore our website, and consider becoming a member. We hope to see you at one of our events soon!

Dr Conor Heffernan, BSSH Chair