Region gets the ball rolling

The birthplace of two world-renowned games. The West Midlands continues to champion its sporting talent.

 

Trailblazers

The West Midlands has a proud heritage of breaking down barriers in sport. Three West Bromwich Albion footballers, Laurie Cunningham, Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis, are credited with inspiring a generation of black professional players in the UK.

Two of English football’s leading female figures hail from Solihull – Karen Carney MBE and Baroness Karren Brady, with Halesowen's Jordanne Whiley the first-ever British woman to medal in Wheelchair tennis at an Olympic Games.

Walsall's Ellie Simmonds has won gold medals across three Paralympic Games, the first at the age of 13, while Coventry's Kare Adenegan is a multiple Paralympic medallist, winning BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2018. 
 

In a league of their own

The West Midlands is home to five of the oldest professional football teams in the world: Aston Villa (1874), Birmingham City (1875), Wolverhampton Wanderers (1877), West Bromwich Albion (1878) and Walsall (1888). In 1888, William McGregor of Aston Villa FC invited other clubs (including Wolves and West Brom) to play regular games of football, creating the Football League.

Wolves’ match with Honved in December 1954 was instrumental in forming the European Cup, now known as the Champions League. In honour of his beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers, composer Sir Edward Elgar penned the world's first football chant, titled ‘He Banged the Leather for Goal’.

Try-athlete

Rugby in Warwickshire is known throughout the world as the birthplace of the game. It was in the market town in 1823, while playing football at his school, that William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran. This moment, which took place on The Close at Rugby School, is the origin of Rugby Union, Rugby League, and American Football. Today, you can visit the momentous spot and dedicated museum.

Serving up a new sport

Lawn tennis was invented and first played in Birmingham over 150 years ago. Major Harry Gem created the game with JBA Perera in a back garden in Ampton Road, Edgbaston. Today, the city hosts a crucial Wimbledon warm-up tournament at the Edgbaston Priory Club.

Discover great places to visit, our leading business sectors, and all the information you need about holding your next conference or event in the region. Find out more about our successful Universities of the West Midlands and how to travel comfortably and easily around the region by West Midlands Railway.