A brief history of sport at the University

Published on

group of people outside a sports centre in the 1970s

For 140 years, sport has been at the heart of the University of Liverpool’s student body, providing a space for forging life-long friendships and creating unforgettable memories. Join us as we look back at the legacy of sport at the University.

Origins of sport at the University

Sport’s history at the University began in 1884, when Chair of Latin, Professor Herbert Augustus Strong, joined forces with three medical students to establish the University College Athletic Club – or as you may know it today, the Athletic Union (AU).

As Victorian Britain moved towards shorter working hours, students found more time to dedicate to sports and from there, the University College Athletic Club flourished. Beginning as friendly competitions against local clubs, by the late 1880s the Clubs were partaking in the Christie Cup alongside Leeds and Manchester universities. Today, that historical event is still competed for, as is the Varsity against local sporting rivals Liverpool John Moores University

Opening of the Sports Centre

A major milestone came in 1966 with the opening of the University’s Sports Centre. Designed by renowned post-war architect Denys Lasdun, the Centre boasted a new swimming pool and sports hall.

The Centre replaced the Walter Harding Gymnasium which had previously accommodated the University’s sporting activities, making way for an extension to the Guild of Students.

Governing the Athletic Union and National University Sport

In 1919 sports clubs at the University elected their first student leader, known as the General Secretary of Athletics (GSA). By 1991, this role became the AU President and is proudly held today by law student Zak Fiaz.

It was also in 1919 that the Universities Athletic Union (UAU) was established as the first national university sports body for students, of which the University of Liverpool is a founding member. It continued until 1994 when it was succeeded by a body called BUSA.

A successful legacy

In 2007, Sport Liverpool was officially formed as a department at the University, growing to include more than 50 clubs and more than 4,000 members to date. Sport Liverpool has consistently ranked top 25 in the BUCS in recent years.

The Athletic Union has won 120 national student titles since 1919, with a University record of 24 titles won in the 1970s. The Water Polo club hold the title as one of the most decorated clubs, with an impressive 17 titles to their name. A reunion for past members is taking place from the 2 – 4 May 2025, so if you’re interested, please email alumni@liverpool.ac.uk for more details.

Modern-day wins

The Athletic Union continues to celebrate success with recent wins including:

  • Women’s Rugby Union won a national trophy in 2024, earning them a promotion in the North Premier League – a league Women’s Fencing and Women’s Lacrosse are also a part of.
  • The Men’s Canoe Polo won the BUCS Championship, and now sit alongside the Women’s Rugby Union in Sport Liverpool’s honours board of winners, which is proudly displayed in the Sports Centre.
  • In 2024, the University of Liverpool celebrated its ninth consecutive Varsity win.
  • You can view a full round-up of last year’s successes here.

Past Sport Liverpool members have gone on to earn many accolades including Engineering graduate Oli Wilkes who won bronze for Team GB in the Men's Rowing Four Final at the Olympics in Paris. Whilst studying at the University, Oli learnt to row, after attending a rowing taster in his first year and joining the rowing team in his second year.

Graduate and athlete Oli Wilkes at the Olympics in Paris

Many of Sport Liverpool’s triumphs today are built on the foundations laid by our alumni, whose dedication to their clubs continues to inspire the next generation of athletes.

Reconnecting with our sports alumni

Whether you were a member of a trophy-winning club or part of a team more casually, you are an important part of Sport Liverpool’s legacy. We’d love to hold an in-person event in 2026 for you to reconnect with teammates, explore our facilities today and celebrate decades of achievement. If this is something you’d be interested in, please complete this form here to register your interest.

With so much history, it’d be a shame not to catch up and share fond memories of being a part of Sport Liverpool and the Athletic Union. With that in mind we’re hoping to share more Sports related news in the alumni newsletter and across the alumni’s Instagram channel.

In the meantime, stay connected with news from Sport Liverpool on the news feed and the e-zine, Active News.

Interested in using the facilities at our Sports Centre? University alumni have exclusive access to a discounted Sport Liverpool membership, which will save you £96 on a standard membership. For more information, please visit the alumni discounts webpage here.

I hope this has stirred a few happy sporting memories for you. Stay tuned for more updates celebrating the legacy of sport at the University.

Stuart Wade, Sports Development Manager
Sport Liverpool and the AU