The prestigious Lord Aberdare Literary Prize is awarded each year by the British Society of Sports History for the best book on any aspect of the history of sport which fulfils one or more of the following criteria: Discusses events which took place in Britain or the British world; is written by a British author; and is written by an author working at a British university. The British Society of Sports History appoints a panel of three judges to consider submissions.
Previous years’ winners include Martin Johnes for Soccer and Society: South Wales, 1900-1939 (2002); Emma Griffin for England’s Revelry: A History of Popular Sports and Pastimes (2006); Paul Dimeo for A History of Drug Use in Sport 1876-1976: Beyond Good and Evil (2008); Rob Lake for A Social History of Tennis In Britain (2015); Robert Colls, for This Sporting Life Sport and Liberty in England 1760-1960 (2021); Heather Dichter for Bidding for the 1968 Olympic Games: International Sport’s Cold War Battle with NATO (2022); and Matthew Brown for Sports in South America: A History (2024).
There were 22 entries for this year’s Lord Aberdare Prize, and after the careful consideration of the judging committee, they have been whittled down to the following shortlist
- Conor Heffernan for Indian Club Swinging and the Birth of Global Fitness (idrottsforum.org review by Hans Bolling here)
- Matt McDowell for Surfing and Modernity in Northern Scotland (idrottsforum.org review by Kristin Lawler here)
- Matthew Llewellyn & Toby Rider for British Sporting Relations with Apartheid South Africa: The Politics of Racism and Anti-Racism, 1948–1994 (idrottsforum.org review will appear during September)
- Conor Murray for Rugby, Soccer and Irish Society (idrottsforum.org review by Conor Curran here)
The winner will be announced at the British Society of Sports History conference in Belfast, August 20–22, 2025.
Read about Lord Aberdale on Playing Pasts.
