The End of History Perhaps – But the End of the Beginning for the History of Sport! An Anglo-Saxon Autobiographical Perspective

After some twenty years as a cultural historian with a profound interest in sport, several issues now seem especially relevant if the history of sport is to gain unqualified approval, win unequivocal admiration, and achieve unassailable recognition. The history of sport has developed from a seed into a sapling in some 25 years. While some leaves have fallen, while some branches have died or are dying, while some branches are weak and shrivelled, there are also glossy leaves, strong branches and a sturdy trunk. There should be cautious optimism balanced by careful realism among its practitioners.