The sinking of deep coal mines in Blackwell and Tibshelf Parishes in the last 30 years of the 19th Century brought hundreds of families into the area to new housing and good wages. The mine owners invested in sports and social facilities for the workers. New sports fields were established and became home to Rugby, Cricket and Football Teams. Tennis and Bowls followed on and then Darts and Pool Teams grew around the clubs and pubs in the parish. And the sporting ethic spread into all the schools .
Whilst we tell of some who began playing sport for the Colliery Teams and went on to national prominence, it is the participation of the men, women and children and their love of sporting activities which is a vital part of the story we celebrate here.
