The Most Popular Type of Sport In The UK
The United Kingdom is a sporting nation with a whole host of history. They have been world champions in the football, rugby and cricket plus always do well in athletics tournaments such as the Olympics.
Of all the sports though, it is football that is the most popular sport in the UK. It is hard to talk about sports in the UK without mentioning football. However, other sports attract a massive following in the North-West European nation.
Here are the UK’s most popular sports:
Football
UK football follows a league system of over one hundred teams in different divisions. The English Premier League consisting of the top 20 teams, is the most popular football league in the country and has massive viewership from all corners of the globe.
The legendary Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool are the most favorite teams playing in the English Premier League, with followers from every part of the world. The Football Association (FA) governs the sport one of the world’s oldest football governing bodies.
Other famous tournaments under the Football Association include FA Cup, Championship, and Capital one League. There is also a separate Scottish Premier League in Scotland which attracts followers from Britain.
Bobby Charlton, David Beckham, Steven Gerald, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, and John Terry are some of the famous British football players. If you are fan of gambling, then you can always utilize no deposit bonuses for registration in UK casinos and other offers to bet on your favourite football team.
Cricket
Cricket is considered the UK’s national sport and has been around for centuries dating back over 400 years. Most British citizens love this ball and bat game, mostly played during the dry summer months.
There are cricket teams at national, county, and town or village levels, with England’s national team being among the best cricket teams in the world. Northamptonshire and Sussex are among the oldest cricket teams in the world.
Its rules are complex and involve two teams of eleven players each, with teams taking turns to bat and score runs.
Rugby
Rugby is another popular game in the UK. English Rugby team is a regular participant in the world’s major rugby events and is the 2003 World Cup winner. The sport is divided into Rugby Union and Rugby League, with each sub-sport following different rules, such as the mode of advancing the balls and the number of players per team.
The Rugby Football League governs all rugby competitions in the UK, administering the Super Cup, Challenge Cup, and Championships. North West England, Cumbria, and Yorkshire are some locations where Rugby is incredibly popular.
Tennis
Tennis is a popular sports with a significant fan base in the UK. Wimbledon, one of the most prestigious Tennis tournaments, originated in south London in 1877, when the first tennis club was founded. Tennis is an individual or dual sport played on a court, with the Grand Slams title being every tennis player’s dream. A player wins a Grand Slam title by winning the four major tournaments – the United States, Britain (Wimbledon), Australia, and France.
Andy Murray is the most successful British tennis player.
Badminton
Badminton another popular sport in the UK, where it started in 1873. England has been a significant contender at global badminton competitions, winning the 2000 and 2004 Olympic titles. The All-England Championship is a national tournament that takes place annually in Birmingham, attracting players and fans from all parts of the world.
Lauren Smith, Chris Adcock, Gabriel Adcock, and Nathan Robertson are among the famous English badminton stars.
Golf
Usually associated with the wealthy, golf is another popular game in the UK played by thousands of citizens. In fact, the first golf was played on the eastern Scottish coast near Edinburg royal capital. There are over 2,000 golf courses in the UK, with Scotland being the home of some of the world’s oldest golf courses.
Nick Faldo, Rory Mcilroy, Henry Cotton, and Justine Rose are among the best golf players from the UK.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is a fun-packed sport that has attracted many fans from all parts of Britain. The late Queen Elizabeth was a loyal fan of the sport and even owned several racehorses.
The Grand National, the world’s most challenging horse race, is held in England, attracting many participants and fans.
Field Hockey
Field hockey is a recreational and professional sport in the UK, with England leading in popularity. There are more than 100,000 registered field hockey players in England.
Men and Women England national teams have had successful campaigns at global competitions. The men’s team won the 1988 Olympic title, while the women won in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Alex Danson, Ashleigh Ball, Crista Cullen, Laura Bartlett, Hannah Macleod, and Emily Maguire are some of the most famous British field hockey stars.
Video Games
In the recent past, iGaming has been spreading fast in the UK where players play video games and casino games. Some online casino offer demos, enabling recreational players to enjoy the casino experience at no cost. Video slots are also quite popular in the UK where there is no skill required. Smart players always look for platforms that offer 50 free spins bonuses, which can come in handy when building a bankroll.
Swimming
This recreational sport has produced some of the world’s most successful swimmers from the UK, such as Mark Foster. There are annual international swimming competitions in Great Britain organized by the British Olympic Association.
Summary
The above sports, among others, are prevalent in the UK, attracting massive viewership across the globe. Sport like football is a major contributor to employment opportunities in the country and earns the government significant revenues.
