This will be an open-themed conference. Submissions based on original research are welcomed by UK and overseas scholars and can relate to any aspect of sport, physical recreation, education and culture, as considered from a historical perspective.
Abstract submission
Abstracts are accepted as follows
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- Individual: a single abstract from an individual/ co-researchers for 20-minute presentations.
- Proposed panel: a set of abstracts (ideally 3, or 4 maximum) submitted by a representative for a group of individuals/co-researchers examining a single topic or theme (session 90mins, including c.30 minutes questions/discussion).
Abstracts should be c. 200 words, including
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- Full title: as it will appear in the conference programme.
- Outline of the context and/or academic literature informing the research as appropriate; identification of core themes/argument of the paper and broad theoretical and/or methodological approach adopted as appropriate; significance of the research.
- Also include your preferred name; affiliation; email address and a short biography (c.50 words).
Abstract submission deadline is on Wednesday 7th May, 2025. Abstracts must be emailed directly to Dr Conor Heffernan at c.heffernan@ulster.ac.uk .Please include your name within the subject line of the email.
If you need any guidance or assistance regarding your submission, please contact in the first instance, BSSH Equality, Diversity and Inclusion representative Dr Amanda Callan-Spenn (amanda.callan-spenn@dmu.ac.uk).
Keynote speakers
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- Prof. Matthew Brown (University of Bristol), 2024 Lord Aberdare Prize Winner.
- TBC – The Sir Derek Birley Memorial Lecture.
BSSH doctoral and early career research workshop
The British Society of Sport History invites PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) for a pre-conference workshop at the Ulster University’s Belfast Campus, Belfast on 20th August, directly preceding BSSH’s 2025 annual conference. Open to PhD students and early career researchers, who have submitted a paper to the main conference and/or who are interested in meeting with peers, the workshop serves as a dedicated research and networking forum.
To ensure the session does not become overcrowded, the workshop is limited to twenty spaces. The workshop will take place from 10 am- 4.30 pm and will include a complimentary working lunch and refreshments during the day. Interested applicants should state their interest to Dr Andy Carter at andy_kerr_carter@hotmail.co.uk by Wednesday 14th May 2025. PhD and ECR applicants are reminded that registration fees are not charged for them if they are presenting at the main conference and are not in full-time academic employment. Andy will be happy to answer any questions about this event.
The workshop offers an excellent opportunity for PhD students and Early Career Researchers to learn about how to disseminate their work and bridge the gap between the realms of academic and public history through traditional and new forms in addition to a discussion on pathways to successfully making the step up from the PhD/ECR stage into full-term academic employment.
BSSH conference prizes 2025
If you wish to be considered for either of the below prizes, please indicate this when you submit your paper abstract.
Richard Cox Postgraduate Prize
This prize is awarded for the most promising work submitted by a new researcher in sports history. To be eligible, authors should be engaged in full-time or part-time postgraduate research or be within one year of completing their research degree. Co-authored papers will not be considered.
The written paper must be submitted to the conference organisers a month prior to the first day of the annual conference (July 21 2025). A panel of judges will be selected by the BSSH Committee which will assess both the content of the papers under consideration and the presentation.
While we encourage the submission of different kinds of papers, to be eligible for a prize, papers must be a maximum of 6,000 words. Style should be consistent throughout, i.e footnotes where appropriate, and a separate list of references. Text should be no smaller than size 12 Times New Roman and 1.5 or double spacing. Name and contact details of author, paper title, and a short abstract with keywords must also be included on a separate page (please follow Sport in History conventions).
The winning paper will be awarded £200, and the researcher will be invited to submit their paper to the Society’s peer-reviewed journal Sport in History.
Any questions concerning the prizes should be sent to Dr Andy Carter at andy_kerr_carter@hotmail.co.uk
Prize for Best Paper on Sporting Inequalities
Recognising the need to encourage research in new areas of sports history, the British Society of Sports History Committee is continuing to award a prize to reward outstanding work in one of the following under-researched areas:
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- Sport and people of the global majority, or underrepresented ethnic groups in the field.
- Sport and LGBTQ+ communities.
- Women and sport.
- Disability in sport.
Papers should be largely focused on the British context. All eligible papers presented at the conference will be considered by a judging panel. There is no need to submit anything in advance. The winning paper will be awarded £200, and the researcher will be invited to submit their paper to the Society’s peer-reviewed journal Sport in History. Any questions concerning the Prizes should be sent to Dr Katie Taylor at katie.taylor02@ntu.ac.uk. The winner of both prizes will be announced during the conference.
Conference information
Registration
Registration will open shortly via the Ulster University online store. Members will be informed when this is available.
Rates
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- Full delegate: £110 for both days / £60 for one day.
- Retired/unwaged/ Postgrads & ECRs (not presenting): £60 for both days / £45 for one day.
- Postgrads & ECRs presenting at the main conference (and who are not in a permanent academic role): Free.
BSSH will pay the conference fee for presenters who are students or within 3 years of completing a PhD and who do not hold a full-time academic post.
Please note all presenters must be BSSH members. Membership can be taken up at the time of registration (£40 full membership/£20 concession). To join, please visit: https://sporthistory.ssl.subhub.com/subscribe.
Conference dinner
The conference dinner will be held on the evening of Thursday 21st August (venue to be confirmed) in Belfast. The cost for this will be approximately £45 per person.
The fee for the conference dinner will be waived for postgrads and ECRs who are presenting at the conference.
Accommodation
Ulster University is pleased to announce that there will be on-campus accommodation available for delegates in the University’s LIV student accommodation across the road from where the conference is being held. This will cost £80 for two nights. For those who wish to attend the PhD/ECR workshop before the main conference, on-campus accommodation will be available for the night before the workshop (20th August) for an additional £40. Please inform Conor Heffernan at the email address given above to ensure accommodation is secured. Partner accommodation providers will be suggested to all attendees.
Childcare bursaries
This year, the BSSH is also offering a small number of bursaries of up to £100 to contribute towards the costs of childcare, or other caring responsibilities. These are open to those wishing to present and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like more details, please contact BSSH Vice Chair, Dr Katie Taylor (katie.taylor02@ntu.ac.uk).
