For many years outside Old Trafford Cricket Ground on match days, a man held up a placard: "Don't let the Devil catch you out!" It was an indirect link between sport and religion, but as a Christian and a sports fan I have known many direct links.
Soccer is the game I know best and I think today it would be difficult, if not impossible for a Christian to refuse to play on a Sunday, as a Blackpool player, David Durie, did in the 1950s and 60s.
I note, however, that many "imports" from Italy, Spain and South America routinely "cross" themselves as they run onto the pitch.
Cricket, of course, had a prime example of a top-class batsman in David Shepherd, who not only played for England but was also an ordained CofE Minister, serving eventually as Bishop of Liverpool.
Locally, we had a Vicar in Tebay some time ago, Henry Brierly, an accomplished player who opened the batting for our village team.
One of the most striking examples in sport was Eric Liddell, who worked as a missionary and was also an Olympic Gold Medallist in 1904. He refused to compete on a Sunday, thus missing out on a possible gold, but won the sprint on another day.
He continued his calling as a missionary and eventually died in China. I'm sure there are many more examples of people, whose faith has not prevented them from achieving sporting success without abandoning their Christian principles.
For several years in Leeds I ran a Sunday morning soccer team and attended church in the evening, thus, I suppose, having the best of both worlds.
Reg Capstick
Reader Emeritus, St James', Tebay
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