1970s Sports and Leisure

Sporting Highlights

Obviously, this can't include every sporting event, so I've tried to give a flavour of the ones which seemed to dominate the media - at least in my house, especially on a Saturday!
You couldn’t get away from the all-day, incessant round-up of wrestling and the pools results in “World of Sport” and “Grandstand.” But see how these names take you back!

1970
Wimbledon singles winners were John Newcombe (AUS) and Margaret Court (AUS).
Nijinsky II won the Triple Crown of British Thoroughbred Racing.
14 June, FIFA World cup: After defeat in 1966 championship, West Germany take revenge on England, putting them out in quarter finals. Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in Final.
Henry Cooper (Boxer) won his second BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, beating Tony Jacklin (Golfer).
Commonwealth games – won by Australia with 36 gold, 82 overall. GB 2nd with 27 gold, 84 overall.
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL)

1971
Wimbledon singles winners were John Newcombe (AUS) and Evonne Goolagong (AUS).
Princess Anne (Eventing) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating George Best (Footballer).
British and Irish Lions defeat All Blacks for the first time in a series.
World Snooker champion was John Spencer (ENG).

1972
Wimbledon singles winners were Stan Smith (USA) and Billie Jean King (USA).
The Great Britain rugby league team won the World Cup, led by the late Clive Sullivan the first black player to captain a British team at any sport.
Olympic games – Munich: Soviet Union top in medals table with 49 Gold, 125 overall GB 12th in medals table with 4 Gold, 18 overall
Among the 1972 Summer Olympic highlights was the performance of swimmer Mark Spitz, who set 7 World Records to win a record 7 gold medals in one Olympics, bringing his total to nine. Other notable athletes at the 1972 games were 16-year-old Olga Korbut, whose success in women's gymnastics earned 3 gold medals for the Soviet Union, and British athlete Mary Peters, who took home the gold in the women's pentathlon, going on to be the Sports Personality of the Year beating Gordon Banks (Footballer).
During the games, Palestinian terrorists killed two Israeli athletes and took nine hostages. After a failed rescue attempt, all hostages and all but three of terrorists were killed.
Winter Olympic games Sapporo, Japan – Soviet Union top medals table with 8 gold, 16 overall.
World Snooker champion was Alex Higgins (NIR).

1973
Wimbledon singles winners were Jan Kodes (CZE) and Billie Jean King (USA).
"Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Jackie Stewart (F1 driver) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Roger Taylor (Tennis).
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL).
Ajax (NL) win third consecutive European Cup.

1974
Wimbledon singles winners were Stan Smith (USA) and Chris Evert (USA).
Gerd "der Bomber" Müller scored his 14th World Cup goal, a then record, as West Germany won the FIFA World Cup, beating Netherlands 2-1.
Commonwealth games – GB were 2nd in medals table with 28 gold, 80 overall, just 2 behind winners Australia.
The Rumble in the Jungle boxing match; Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's career home run record.
Brendan Foster (Athletics) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating John Conteh (Boxer).
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL).

1975
Wimbledon singles winners were Arthur Ashe (USA) and Billie Jean King (USA).
First Cricket World Cup organised in England – West Indies beat Australia by 17 runs.
Muhammad Ali beat Joe Frazier in the Thrilla In Manila. Pele came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos and brought U.S. Soccer into American mainstream.
David Steele (Cricketer) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Alan Pascoe (Athletics).
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL).

1976

Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Chris Evert (USA).
Olympic games – Montreal Soviet Union top in medals table with 50 Gold, 99 overall. GB 13th in medals table with 3 gold, 12 overall. Highlights included the legendary performance of 14-year-old Romanian female gymnast Nadia Comăneci, who scored 7 perfect 10s and won 3 gold medals, including the prestigious All Around in women's gymnastics. Also featured the strong U.S. boxing team, which consisted of Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, Leo Randolph and Howard Davis Jr. The team won five gold medals and was arguably the greatest Olympic boxing team ever. Lorna Johnstone became the oldest British athlete to ever compete in the Games when she made the equestrian team, aged 69, and HRH The Princess Royal became the first member of the Royal Family to compete at an Olympics when she rode the Queen’s horse, Goodwill, in the three-day event.
Winter Olympic games – Innsbruck, Austria. Soviet Union top in medals table with 13 Gold, 27 overall. GB 12th with 1 gold, 1 overall.
John Curry wins Gold in figure skating to become European, Olympic and World champion and Sports Personality of the Year, beating James Hunt (F1 driver).
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL).
Bayern Munich (GER) win third consecutive European Cup.

1977
Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Virginia Wade (GBR).
After a long wait for an English Wimbledon champion, this was most fitting in the Queen's Silver Jubilee year, and Virginia Wade was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Geoffrey Boycott (Cricketer).
Pelé plays the last game of his professional career in a friendly between the New York Cosmos and Santos FC.
Red Rum wins third Grand National.
World Snooker champion was John Spencer (ENG)

1978
Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
Many controversies surround “The Dirtiest World Cup of All Time” in Argentina, Johan Cruyff pulled out for personal reasons. In the final, Argentina beat Netherlands 3 – 1 after extra time.
First Ironman Triathlon. Affirmed becomes the 11th thoroughbred to win the U.S. Triple Crown.
Commonwealth games – won by Canada with 45 gold, 109 overall. GB 2nd with 27 gold, 87 overall
Steve Ovett, unbeaten over 1500m since 1977, was the Sports Personality of the Year, beating Daley Thompson (Athletics).
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL) and World Darts Champion was Leighton Rees (WAL).
Liverpool (GBR) win second consecutive European Cup.

1979
Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
Second Cricket World Cup – West Indies beat England by 92 runs.
Sugar Ray Leonard wins his first world boxing title.
Sebastian Coe, an 800m specialist, broke three world records in 1979 and was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Ian Botham (Cricketer).
World Snooker champion was Terry Griffiths (WAL) and World Darts Champion was John Lowe (GBR).
Nottingham Forrest (GBR) win European Cup.

Leisure

So what, you may ask, did the women do while their menfolk were down the city every Saturday, or glued to the TV for hours (days) on end? There didn’t seem to be much concept of the “girls night out” back then, so some bright spark invented party selling.A simple concept, it saw groups of (female) family members, friends and neighbours gathering in someone’s home, often with teas and coffees or alcohol on hand, to enjoy a drink, a bite to eat and a few hours of conversation. More than buying and selling the kitchen containers, it was a chance for women to get together with friends and neighbours to catch up on family life, and enjoy some time away from the daily grind.
I believe Tupperware parties were the first - held in 1949 by a single mom in Detroit. They’d certainly hit UK by the mid 70s, and it went on to spawn other sales: pottery, makeup and eventually in the early 80s Ann Summers products.