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Sports Stars Celebrate at Swansea Uni

The popular Welsh rugby international Paul Thorburn, famous for his ‘kick of the age’ against Scotland in 1986, will be an opening speaker at a book launch at Swansea University. Written by Stan Addicott, A Century of Sport presents the story of the last 100 years of sporting activity at the University, from its founding after the First World War to present times.

A panoply of sporting heroes, old and new, are featured including Olympic medalists and international players active in a wide range of sports including rugby, football, athletics, swimming, hockey and cricket. The book also charts the rise of women’s sport, the advent of the professional era, and the development of sport from just five University clubs to more than fifty today.

Stan Addicott, the author, is a former Director of Sport and Physical Education at the University, and has a lifetime of coaching experience including Swansea RFC and as assistant coach to the Wales national team. He is well known in Swansea sporting circles and was past president of Langland Bay Golf Club.

Set decade by decade against the social and political events of the time the book traces the development of sport at the University but also emphasises its benefits to the wider community. It describes how a ‘converted refuse dump’ was developed into a magnificent Sports Park, and how new facilities were painstakingly built, such as the Wales National Swimming Pool and the Sports Hall at the new Bay Campus.

The author lists a surprising number prominent sports stars – such as Wales rugby captain, Alun Wyn Jones – who were educated at Swansea University, but spices their educational achievements with colourful anecdotes and comments.