Community
The hidden hands that built Wimbledon
Wimbledon headlines go to the champions, but it’s the hidden network of groundskeepers, ball crews, umpires, and operators that have helped build its legacy. This is their history. 1877: One court, a handful of staff, and a new chapter in sport One day, on a croquet...
The “unforgettable experience” of the Wimbledon Queue
Combine queueing and Wimbledon, and you get the most British experience possible - but none of it would be possible without the stewards.
“I was given four to six months to live”: athletics coach John Powell’s story
Whether it’s shaping future Olympians or them helping save his life, athletics coach John Powell MBE proves coaching doesn’t stop at the finish line.
The team sport of mental health
From tackling stigmatising language in the media to filling gaps in care for those struggling, ...
‘It could happen anywhere, to anyone’ – the charities saving lives in sport
Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 sparked conversations about cardiac health in ...
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of sport”
For Volunteers’ Week, hear from three women who help bring some of the world’s biggest sporting events to life.
From the laundry room to snaps with Snoop Dogg: inside American football
He doesn’t score goals or lift trophies, but when a helmet breaks, something goes missing, or Snoop Dogg needs a running partner, American football equipment manager Patrick Reaves is always one step ahead. Doing laundry and fixing gear for over 100 players and...
How cricket crafts coaches from the ground up
Clubs don’t just make players, but coaches too. Sidelines explores how the pathway from student to master helps the cricket ecosystem grow and thrive. “At age seven, I knew I wanted to be a coach,” says George Duckworth, coach at Sutton Cricket Club. “At age 13, I...
The Women’s Rugby World Cup: the start of a movement?
As the Women's Rugby World Cup approaches, there is hope for a swell of participation in the game - but that won't happen on its own. It takes the dedication of grassroots volunteers, as Amy Hamerslagh and Cerys Jones report. When the Women's Rugby World Cup takes...
Cheese rolling: meet the team behind world-famous Cooper’s Hill event
Each year, the world's wildest community sport takes place on Cooper's Hill: cheese rolling. Sidelines uncovers more. The small village of Brockworth in Gloucester has come into the spotlight once again. Their annual cheese-rolling event involves participants chasing...
The inside story of Armed Forces volunteers at Wimbledon
Most Wimbledon fans don’t realise, but volunteers from the British Armed Forces play a vital role at the event, as Cerys Jones and Amelia Cox found out.From its all-white uniforms to its delicious strawberries and cream, Wimbledon is a tournament of tradition, but one...
How AFC Wimbledon rose from the floodwaters to Wembley glory
AFC Wimbledon have been promoted to League One but to reach Wembley, they had to overcome the biggest challenge of their history: a flooded stadium.
Why music is the heartbeat of surf culture
Over the years, sounds have created global surf communities. Sidelines spoke to the world’s definitive expert on surf and music culture to understand how surfing communities are shaped not only by the waves, but the soundtrack. Set against the backdrop of Cornwall’s...
Wimbledon’s ball boys and girls: the view from the courtside
Every summer, the Wimbledon Championships provides fans worldwide with the best players and produces the best tennis, but the people who work behind the scenes make it all happen.
Jinx or genius? Inside the minds of superstitious sports fans
With expert help, Sidelines dives into the psychology of die-hard superstitious sports fans.