List of English sportsmen and sportswomen explained

Listed below are English sportsmen and sportswomen of note and some notable individuals born in England.

• Barney Aaron (Young) (1800–1850), lightweight boxer, Hall of Fame^[1]
• Harold Abrahams (1899–1978), athlete, Olympic champion (100-metre sprint) and silver (4x100-m relay), one of the two subjects of Chariots of Fire
• Sir Sidney Abrahams (1885–1957), Olympic long jumper
• Chris Adams (1955–2001), pro wrestler and judoka
• Neil Adams (born 1958), judoka and two-time silver medalist in Judo (1980 and 1984), younger brother of Chris Adams
• Nicola Adams (born 1982), two-time Olympic gold medallist and former world champion boxer
• Tony Adams (born 1966), footballer
• Edward Allen, footballer
• Malcolm Allison (1927–2010), football manager
• Simon Andrews (1984–2014), Isle of Man TT rider
• Jo Ankier (born 1982), Britain, record holder (1,500-m & 3,000-m steeplechase)
• Willie Applegarth (1890–1958), track and field athlete
• James Arnott, footballer
• Dina Asher-Smith (born 1995), fastest British woman; world champion (200m Doha 2019)
• Graham Atkinson (1943–2017), footballer
• Joe Baker (1940–2003), footballer and manager
• George Baldry (1911–1987), footballer
• Alan Ball (1945–2007), member of the 1966 World Cup winning team
• Billy Balmer (1875–1961), footballer
• Gordon Banks (1937–2019), goalkeeper of 1966 World Cup winning team
• Sir Roger Bannister (1929–2018), first sub-four-minute miler
• Robert Barker (1847–1915), footballer
• Donny Barnard (born 1984), footballer
• Wade Barrett (born 1980), WWE wrestler
• Cliff Bastin (1912–1991), footballer
• Arthur Bate (1908–1993), footballer
• Lord Frederick Beauclerk (1773–1850), cricket player and administrator
• David Beckham (born 1975), footballer^[2]
• Jude Bellingham (born 2003), footballer
• Charles Bennett (1870–1948) track and field athlete
• Lawson Bennett (1938–2011), footballer
• Jack Kid Berg (Judah Bergman) (1909–1991), world champion junior welterweight boxer, Hall of Fame
• Richard Bergmann (1919–1970), 7-time table tennis world champion, ITTFHoF
• Billy Betts (1864–1941), footballer
• Ted Birnie (1878–1935), footballer and manager
• Sid Bishop (1900–1949), footballer
• Nick Blackman (born 1989), English-Israeli footballer
• Andrulla Blanchette (born 1966), IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Steve Bloomer (1874–1938), footballer and manager
• Chris Bonington (born 1934), mountaineer
• Bernard Bosanquet (1877–1936), cricketer
• Sir Ian Botham (born 1955), cricketer
• Mark Bott, cricketer^[3]
• Teddy Bourne (born 1948), Olympic épée fencer
• Geoffrey Boycott (born 1940), cricketer
• James Brae, footballer
• Eric Bristow (1957–2018), world champion darts player
• Johnny Brooks (1931–2016), footballer and manager
• Tony Brooks (1932–2022), F1 driver
• Steve Bruce (born 1960), footballer & manager
• Bobby Buckle (1869–1959), footballer
• Chris Buckley (1886–1973), footballer
• Frank Buckley (1882–1964), footballer and manager
• Paul Burchill (born 1979), professional wrestler
• Cam Burgess (1919–1978), footballer
• Joe Butler (1879–1941), football player
• Jenson Button (born 1980), 2009 Formula One World Champion^[4]
• Angela Buxton (1934–2020), won 1956 French Women's Doubles (with Althea Gibson) and 1956 Wimbledon Women's Doubles (with Gibson), highest world ranking #9
• Peter Broadbent (1933–2013), footballer
• Michael Carrick (1981), footballer
• Herbert Chapman (1878–1934), football player and manager
• Sir Bobby Charlton (born 1937), member of the 1966 World Cup winning team
• Jack Charlton (1935–2020), member of the 1966 World Cup winning team
• Dave Charnley (1935–2012), lightweight boxer
• Charles Chenery (1850–1928), footballer and cricketer
• Sir Francis Chichester (1901–1972), yachtsman
• Ian Clough (1937–1970), mountaineer
• Don Cockell (1928–1983), heavyweight boxer
• Samuel Coe (1873–1955), first-class cricketer
• Chris Cohen (born 1987), footballer
• George Cohen (1939–2022), association football right back, World Cup champion
• Andy Cole (born 1971), footballer
• Paul Collingwood (born 1976), cricketer
• Peter Collins (1931–1958), F1 driver
• Sir Henry Cooper (1934–2011), heavyweight boxer
• Ralph Cooperman (1927–2009), Olympic foil and sabre fencer
• Steve Coppell (born 1955), footballer & manager
• Lisa Cross (born 1978), IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Sid Crowl (1888–1971), footballer
• Russell Cuddihey (born 1939), footballer
• Stan Cullis (1916–2001), footballer and manager
• Laurie Cunningham (1956–1989), footballer
• Tom Daley (born 1994), youngest diver ever to compete in Olympics (participated in Beijing 2008)
• Lawrence Dallaglio (born 1972), World Cup winning rugby footballer
• Alan Davies (1933–2009), World Cup winning rugby footballer
• Laura Davies (born 1963), golfer
• Steve Davis (born 1957), six-time World Snooker Champion
• Matt Dawson (born 1972), World Cup winning rugby footballer
• John Deacon (1962–2001), motorcycle endurance racer
• Christopher Dean (born 1958), figure skater
• John Derbyshire (1878–1938), swimmer
• Graham Dilley (1959–2011), cricketer
• Percy Down (1883–1954), rugby union player, represented England and Great Britain
• Ted Drake (1912–1995), footballer and manager, cricketer for Hampshire County Cricket Club
• Fred Driver, footballer
• Harry Duckworth, footballer
• Jimmy Dugdale (1932–2008), footballer
• Duncan Edwards (1936–1958), footballer
• Jonathan Edwards (born 1966), triple jump
• Joe Egan (1919–2012), rugby footballer
• Godfrey Evans (1920–1999), cricketer (wicket-keeper)
• Ray Evans (1933–2009), footballer
• Fred Ewer (1898–1971), footballer
• James Fairburn, footballer
• Percy Fender, cricketer
• James Figg (before 1700–1734), prizefighter
• Sir Tom Finney (1922–2014) footballer
• Albert Firth (1937–2015), rugby footballer
• William Fiske (1885–1918), footballer
• Bob Fitzsimmons (1863–1917), boxing's first world champion in three divisions
• Andrew Flintoff (born 1977), cricketer
• Septimus Francom (1882–1965), long-distance runner
• C B Fry (1872–1956), cricketer and all-round athlete
• Tyson Fury (born 1988), professional boxer
• Ron Garland (1931–1989), footballer
• Paul Gascoigne (born 1967), football player
• Les Gaunt (1918–1985), footballer
• Dwight Gayle (born 1989), football player
• Steven Gerrard (born 1980), football player
• Graham Gooch (born 1953), cricketer
• Pete Goss (born 1961), around-the-world yachtsman
• Grantley Goulding (1874–1947), athlete
• W G Grace (1848–1915), cricketer
• Cyril Grant (1920–2002), footballer
• Jimmy Greaves (1940–2021), footballer
• Jack Greenwell (1884–1942), footballer and manager
• Ron Greenwood (1921–2006), footballer and manager
• Will Greenwood (born 1972), rugby footballer
• Ernest Hackett (1908–?), footballer
• Sam Haden (1902–1974), footballer and manager
• Naseem Hamed (born 1974), featherweight boxer
• Lewis Hamilton (born 1985), seven-time Formula One World Champion
• Harry Hampton (1885–1963), football player
• Ellis Hargreaves, footballer
• Ricky Hatton (born 1978), world champion boxer
• Mike Hawthorn (1929–1959), F1 World Champion
• David Haye (born 1980), world champion boxer
• Johnny Haynes (1934–2005), footballer
• Arthur Henfrey (1867–1929), footballer
• Emile Heskey (born 1978), footballer
• Charlie Hewitt (1884–1966), footballer and manager
• Damon Hill (born 1960), F1 World Champion
• Graham Hill (1929–1975), two times F1 World Champion
• Jimmy Hill (1928–2015), footballer
• Syd Hoar (1895–1967), footballer
• David Hobbs (born 1939), Former Formula One driver
• Jack Hobbs (1882–1963), cricketer
• Glenn Hoddle (born 1957), footballer
• Martin Hodgson (1909–1991), rugby footballer
• Teddy Hodgson (1885–1919), footballer
• Ken Holliday (1925–1999), footballer
• Duncan Horton (born 1967), footballer
• Leslie Housden (1894–1963), Olympic marathon runner
• William Howarth (1875–?), footballer
• John Howell (born 1936), Olympic long jumper
• Alexander Hughes (1907–1977), footballer
• Kenneth Hunt (1884–1949), footballer
• James Hunt (1947–1993), F1 World Champion^{[5] [6]}
• Norman Hunter (1943–2020), footballer and manager
• Sir Geoff Hurst (born 1941), member of the 1966 World Cup winning team
• Nasser Hussain (born 1968), cricketer
• Len Hutton (1916–1990), cricketer
• Gus Huxford (1889–1961), footballer
• Anthony Joshua (born 1989), professional boxer
• David Jack (1898–1958), footballer and manager
• E.J. 'John' Jackett, rugby union player, represented England and Great Britain.
• Peter Jacobs (born 1938), Olympic fencer
• Peter Jaffe, Olympic silver (yachting; star-class)
• Allan Jay (1931–2023), épée & foil fencer, Olympic two-time silver, world champion
• Richard Jerome (born 1968), cricketer
• Martin Johnson (born 1970), World Cup winning rugby union footballer
• Trish Johnson (born 1966), golfer
• Brian Keeble (1938–2015), footballer
• Mike Keen (1940–2009), footballer
• Howard Kendall (1946–2015), footballer and manager of Everton F.C.
• Joe Kennedy (1925–1986), footballer
• Josh Kennet (born 1987), English-Israeli footballer
• Joseph Kenyon, footballer
• Amir Khan (born 1986), lightweight boxer
• Herbert Kingaby (1880–1934), footballer
• Joseph Kitchen (1890–1974), footballer
• Paul Klenerman (born 1963), Olympic sabre fencer
• Frank Lampard (born 1978), footballer
• Dougie Lampkin (born 1976), Motorcycle Trials World Champion
• Mark Lazarus (born 1938), footballer, right winger
• Jason Leonard (born 1968), World Cup winning rugby union footballer
• Edward Lawrence Levy (1851–1932), English world champion weightlifter
• Lennox Lewis (born 1965), world champion heavyweight boxer
• Ted "Kid" Lewis (Gershon Mendeloff) (1893–1970), world champion welterweight boxer, Hall of Fame
• Josh Lewsey (born 1976), rugby footballer
• Jim Leytham (1879–1916), rugby footballer
• Billy Lindsay (1872–1933), footballer
• Jimmy Lindsay (1880–1925), footballer
• Gary Lineker (born 1960), footballer
• Sam Little (born 1975), professional golfer
• Nat Lofthouse (1925–2011), footballer
• James Lomas (1879–1960), rugby footballer
• Robert Lowe, footballer
• Hyman Lurie (1918–1982), table tennis player
• Dar Lyon, cricketer
• Dame Ellen MacArthur (born 1976), sailor who holds the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe
• Ernie Machin (1944–2012), footballer
• George Mallory (1886–1924), mountaineer
• Andy Mangan (born 1986), footballer
• Nigel Mansell (born 1953), racing driver, F1 and CART champion
• Terry Marsh (born 1958), world champion boxer
• Darren Matthews (born 1968), professional wrestler
• Stanley Matthews (1915–2000), footballer
• Thomas Matthews (1884–1969), cyclist
• Jock McAvoy (1908–1971), boxer
• Bill McGarry (1927–2005), footballer and manager
• Bertie Mee (1918–2001), footballer and manager
• Daniel Mendoza (1764–1836), world heavyweight champion boxer, Hall of Fame
• Sidney Merlin (1856–1952), sports shooter
• John Middleton (1910–1971), footballer
• Colin Milburn (1941–1990), cricketer
• Gordon Miller (born 1939), Olympic high jumper
• Alan Minter (1951–2020), world champion boxer
• Ivor Montagu (1904–1984), British national team and founder of the International Table Tennis Federation
• Stan Mortensen (1921–1991), footballer and manager
• Bobby Moore (1941–1993), captain of the 1966 World Cup winning team
• Stirling Moss (1929–2020), F1 driver
• Andy Murray (born 1987), tennis player, current number 2 seed
• Alfred Mynn (1807–1861), cricketer
• Gary Neville (born 1975), footballer
• Phil Neville (born 1977), footballer
• Justin Newell (born 1980), footballer
• Alison Nicholas (born 1962), golfer
• Harry Nuttall (1897–1969), footballer
• William Oakley (1873–1934), footballer
• Ronnie O'Sullivan (born 1975), three time World Snooker Champion
• Michael Owen (born 1979), football player
• James Oyebola (1961–2007), heavyweight boxer
• Bob Paisley (1919–1996), 3-time European Cup winning manager with Liverpool F.C.
• Rachel Parish (born 1981), markswoman and fencer
• Michael Park (1966–2005), WRC co-driver
• John Parrott (born 1964), world snooker champion
• George Payne (1921–1987), footballer
• Cyril Peacock (1929–1992), racing cyclist
• Fred Perry (1909–1995), Wimbledon champion tennis player
• Martin Peters (1943–2019), member of the 1966 World Cup winning team
• Eddie Phillips (1911–1995), boxer
• Kevin Pietersen (born 1980), cricketer
• Jack Plant (1871–1950), footballer
• David Pleat (born 1945), footballer, manager, and sports commentator
• David Pratt (1896–1967), footballer and manager
• Daniel Prenn (1904–1991), tennis player, highest world ranking #6
• Stephanie Proud (born 1988), backstroke swimmer
• Darren Quinton (born 1986), footballer
• Samuel Rabin (1903–1991), Olympic bronze wrestler (freestyle middleweight)
• Paula Radcliffe (born 1973), distance runner
• Alf Ramsay (1920–1999), football player and manager
• John Raphael (1882–1917), cricket and rugby union
• Sir Steve Redgrave (born 1962), rower, winner of gold medal in five consecutive Olympics
• William Regal (born 1968), WWE wrestler and commentator
• Cyrille Regis (1958–2018), footballer
• Sir Gordon Richards (1904–1988), jockey, holder of several records
• Richard Riley, footballer
• Jack Robinson (1870–1931), footballer
• Sir Bobby Robson (1933–2009), football manager
• Wayne Rooney (born 1985), footballer, all-time leading goal scorer for the England National Football Team and Manchester United Football Club
• David Seaman (born 1963), footballer
• Archie Sexton (1908–1957), boxer
• Dave Sexton (1930–2012), footballer and manager
• Paul Scholes (born 1974), footballer
• Alan Shearer (born 1970), footballer, all-time leading goal scorer in the premiership
• Teddy Sheringham (born 1966), football player
• Ruth Shevelen (born 1992), trampoline gymnast
• Kelly Simm (born 1995), artistic gymnast
• Davey Boy Smith (1962–2002), professional wrestler
• Joe Smith (1889–1971), footballer and manager
• Tom Smith (1876–1937), footballer
• Cyril Spiers (1902–1967), footballer and manager
• Dennis Stevens (1933–2012), footballer
• Nobby Stiles (1942–2020), football World Cup winner
• Andrew Stoddart (1863–1915), rugby and cricket player
• Frederick Stokes (1850–1929), rugby footballer
• Dr. Lennard Stokes (1856–1933), rugby footballer
• Karen Stupples (born 1973), golfer
• Frank Swift (1913–1958), footballer
• Andrew Sznajder (born 1967), English-born Canadian tennis player
• Laurie Taitt (1934–2006), Olympic sprint hurdler
• Graham Taylor (1944–2017), footballer and manager
• Peta Taylor (1912–1989), cricketer
• Phil Taylor (born 1960), multi world champion darts player
• John Terry (born 1980), footballer
• Albert Thompson (1885–1956), footballer
• Jayne Torvill (born 1957), figure skater
• William Townley (1866–1950), footballer and manager
• Frank Townsend (1925–1946), rugby footballer
• Jack Tresadern (1890–1959), footballer and manager
• Marcus Trescothick (born 1975), cricketer
• Fred Trueman (1931–2006), fast bowler
• Phil Tufnell (born 1966), cricketer
• Derek Turner (1932–2015), world cup winning rugby footballer
• Randolph Turpin (1928–1966), middleweight boxer
• George Tweedy (1913–1987), footballer
• Geoff Twentyman (1930–2004), footballer and manager
• Michael Vaughan (born 1974), cricketer
• Stan Vickers (1932–2013), athlete
• Virginia Wade (born 1945), tennis player
• Sir William Wavell Wakefield (1898–1983), rugby footballer and politician
• George Waller (1864–1937), footballer
• Wallis Walters (1878–1952), hurdler
• Frank Warren (born 1952), boxing promoter
• Matt Wells (1886–1953), lightweight champion of Great Britain and world champion welterweight
• Ruth Westbrook (1930–2016), cricketer
• Johnny Wheeler (1928–2019), footballer
• Dan Wheldon (1978–2011), 2005 and 2011 Indy 500 Winner, 2005 Indy Car Series Champion
• Jimmy White (born 1962), snooker player
• Edgar Whittaker, footballer
• Arthur Whittam, footballer
• Bradley Wiggins (born 1980), first British man to win the Tour de France
• Jonny Wilkinson (born 1979), world cup winning rugby footballer
• Joey Williams (1902–1978), footballer
• Charlie Wilson (1895–1971), footballer
• Justin Wilson (1978–2015), racing driver
• Vivian Woodward (1879–1954), footballer
• Billy Wright (1924–1994), footballer
• Vic Wright (1909–1964), footballer

See also

• List of Cornish sportsmen and sportswomen
• List of England women Test cricketers
• List of England women Twenty20 International cricketers

Notes and References

1. News: Barney Aaron–Star of the East Shone in London . Ron . Jackson . Richmark Sentinel . 17 January 2010 . 1 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150630191542/http://www.newstime.co.za/rs_articles.asp?catid=3&recid=1211&pcurr=1 . 30 June 2015 .
2. News: David Beckham. mlssoccer.com. 8 June 2019.
3. Web site: Team GB cricket fail to see the job through . Danny. Caro . The Jewish Chronicle . 14 July 2009 . 1 July 2010.
4. News: Jenson Button. formula1.com. 8 June 2019.
5. News: James Hunt. formula.com. 14 June 2019.
6. News: 5 Reasons James Hunt remains an F1 icon. formula1.com. 15 June 2018.