Our Sporting Life
Hiking, Adventure and Sports Magazine
Proud Sponsors of the Saddleworth 3Ds U9 Whites
We’re over the moon to sponsor the kit for an under 9s football team this season. The Saddleworth 3Ds U9s Whites are playing their football in the East Manchester Junior Football League!
Good luck, 3Ds!
Our Hiking Life – Hiking Blog
Hiking. From gentle flat trails to mountain ridges, getting out on foot can be the most relaxing or the most exhilarating way to experience the scenery around you. We love a good hike. And in our hiking blog, we share trails, reviews, hints and tips on all things hiking.


I Walked the 15km Route Around Derwent Water and it was a 10/10 Circular Walk
I walked around Derwent Water in the Lake District using the 15km circular hiking trail. Honestly, as far as flat walks in the Lakes go, this one is absolutely brilliant. Here’s how it went.


Best Portable Charging Banks for Hiking in 2025
Traditionalists may not like it! But personally, I don’t like to risk being stuck on a hill or mountain with a dead phone or head torch battery. So I like to carry a portable charging device (or 2, or 3) with me. Here are the best portable charging banks for hiking that I’ve used. (And I’ve used a lot, by the way).


Kinnoull Hill, Tower and Woodland – A Gorgeous Little Hike with MASSIVE Views
Kinnoull Tower is perched on a cliff edge overlooking the River Tay and just by the side of the A90. I’d always fancied a wander up there, each time I’ve driven past. So finally, I went and did it. Here’s some photos and a little review of a small hike with BIG views.


Creag Leacach and Glas Moal – January Munro Bagging
I set out on a January day to bag the munros of Creag Leacach and Glas Maol on a lovely day for a hike in the Cairngorms. Here’s how it went.


Cloud Inversions and Sunset from Yr Elen
Some hiking days just feel harder than others. Llech Ddu Spur (Crib Lem Spur) was one of those days for me. It was an unseasonably


Alternatives to Ben Nevis (With Fewer Crowds)
Ben Nevis always feels like something of a “must bag” for hill baggers (being the highest and all). And that makes it pretty busy. So if you’re less bothered about elevation and more bothered about a peaceful mountain hike, you might want to check out some super alternatives to Ben Nevis where you’re far less likely to encounter a crowd. Let’s check them out!


Meall Nan Tarmachan – A Summer Hike
I set out for a straightforward summer hike up the Munro of Meall Nan Tarmachan. Here’s the route taken, a few photos and how the day went on this beautiful, straightforward and scenic walk.

Hiking 101: What First Timers Need to Know
Hiking is a fun pastime that combines nature, the outdoors and exercise – making a superb hobby for both mental and physical health. And if you’re new to it and you’re just thinking about getting involved, here are of the very basic tips to know!


Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm Circular – BIG Views from the UK’s Second Highest Mountain
I bagged my first Munro in August 2021. It was Ben Macdui – the UK’s second highest mountain. In the same hike I also got my second munro, Cairn Gorm. Here’s how that hike went!

From the Pitch to the Dentist’s Chair: What to Do If You Lose a Tooth Playing Sports
Dental injuries are more common than you might expect in sport. And while losing a tooth to a fast moving cricket ball, a rogue elbow or a fall might sound like the stuff of Sunday League horror, there are things you can do to reduce the risk. In this article, we’re looking at reducing the risk of dental injuries in sport and also what to do in the event you find yourself losing a tooth mid game.

Grassroots to Glory: 7 Football Stars Who Rose from Local Fields to the Premier League
The beauty of football lies not just in the dazzling goals and roaring stadiums but also in its humble beginnings. Grassroots football played on muddy

Top 4 Morning Exercises for Athletes to Enhance Performance
Discover the top 5 morning exercises for athletes. Boost your performance, build strength, and kickstart your day with these dynamic workouts.

The 5 Best January Transfers in History
For a team looking to turn around the fortunes of their season, the January transfer window can be tricky to navigate. As the only opportunity

Sports to the World: How sports have impacted the entertainment industry
If you are not a sports fan, at least one sport, whether indoor or outdoor, then you must be from another world. Whether the Olympics,

The Impact of Commercial Partnerships on UK Sports Development
As commercial partnerships transform British sports, from grassroots to elite levels, understanding their influence on development pathways and community engagement becomes increasingly important. The focus

Sleep and Your Sports Performance: What You Need to Know
Whether you play football for fun at the weekend, like to get out for the occasional job or you’re playing a sport practically at elite

So Much More Than Exercise: Why Team Sports are So Good for Women
Having not played any team sports in well over a decade, the last year has seen me take up football again and, more recently rugby. The benefits for me personally have been incredible. But it’s not just anecdotal. Science too backs up the benefits of team sports in particular and they stretch way further than just the exercise.

Manchester City in Crisis: What’s Gone Wrong for Pep Guardiola?
At the start of the 2024-25 season, expectations surrounding Manchester City were the same they’ve always been: win the Premier League, grab one of the
Our Writers and Editors
It’s really important to us that our content is created by people who know and love their topics. So we source contributions from external experts as well as having our own in house writers who cover their own areas of expertise. If ever we’re offering up health or fitness advice, we want to know it’s coming from someone qualified to give it. So we work with doctors and personal trainers as well. Some of our writers and listed below.

Stacey MacNaught
Hiker & football lover
Stacey is a keen hiker and mountain ridge walker. She runs a women’s over 30s football team and recently took up rugby (with a questionable degree of skill).

Christopher Czermak
Tennis player & coach
Christopher is an enthusiastic tennis player and qualified coach. He’s been playing since the age of 6 and now shares his love of the sport with other aspiring players.

Dr Andres Maldonado
Doctor
Andres Maldonado is a a doctor currently located in Venezuela and working at the country’s International Unit of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. He writes for us on anything health related.

Melanie Gilder
personal trainer
Melanie Gilder is a qualified personal trainer and dance teacher who specialises in female fitness. She works with clients to achieve improved fitness as well as weight loss. She writes for us on fitness tips and advice
Our Statistics and Research

Boxing Statistics UK – How Popular Is Boxing In 2024?
We polled 2,000 people in the UK to ask them about their participation in boxing! We rounded up this data and other data to pull together the most important boxing participation statistics for the UK in 2024! Let’s dive right in.

Golf Statistics: How Popular Is Golf In The UK In 2024?
How popular is golf in the UK in 2024? To find out, we polled 2,000 adults in the UK about their sporting preferences. We’ve crunched the numbers and here’s everything you need to know about how many people are playing and who are the most likely to engage in golf.

Running Statistics UK – How Popular Is Running In 2024?
How popular is running in the UK in 2024? We polled 2,000 people and collated some other facts and figures to find out.

Hiking and Walking Statistics UK: How Popular is hiking in the UK in 2024?
Hiking (or even just getting out for a quick walk) has a whole host of benefits for both mental and physical health. And for many of us, it’s also just fun. But how popular is hiking in the UK in 2024? And where are the most popular hiking spots in the country?

Women’s and Girl’s Football Statistics UK
The momentum behind women’s football is phenomenal. But how many women play football? How many played as children? And what are the audience sizes like? We take a look in our 2024 round up of women’s and girl’s football statistics.

21 Mind Blowing Stats and Facts About the Six Nations Rugby
It’s upon us again – the Six Nations Championship is one of the highlights of the rugby union calendar. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy will battle it out in 2024. And to get set for the competition, here are 21 mind blowing statistics and facts about the 6 Nations.

Everything You Need to Know About Under 10s Football in England
There are specific rules, set out by the Football Association, that must be followed when playing football at under 10s level. “Mini Soccer” is played by all children up to the age of 10. All you need to know about the sport for children at this age is set out below – from how many players on a team to the size of the pitch, goals and even the size of the ball that is used.

Everything You Need to Know About Under 9s Football in England
Football at under 9s in England follows the laws of Mini Soccer. These laws entail the maximum playing time for children, how many players can play in a match and even the size of the ball that should be used. If you want to get your child involved in Football and they are in this age group, here is all you need to know.

Everything You Need to Know About Under 8s Football in England
Under 8s football adheres to the FA laws of “Mini Soccer,” which determine the age of players, time limits on games and other things too. Got a child going into under 8s football or considering it? Here’s everything you need to know about football at this level in England.

Everything You Need to Know About Under 7s Football in England
Under 7s football follows the laws of “Mini Soccer,” which determine the age of players, time limits on games and other things too. Find out everything you need to know about getting started with U7s football in England.

American Football Statistics: UK Popularity 2022
American Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, but exactly how popular is it over the pond in the UK?

Karate Statistics: How Popular Is Karate In The UK In 2022?
Karate is a Japanese martial art which is popular in many countries around the world. It is a popular martial art in the UK too

Skateboarding Statistics: How Popular Is Skateboarding In The UK In 2021?
Although many people may not think skateboarding is a sport, it was actually approved to be a sport in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This

Squash Statistics UK: How Popular is Squash in the UK in 2021?
Squash is a fast-paced racquet sport where players compete against each other by hitting the ball against the wall to rebound towards their opponent. These

Badminton Statistics: How Popular Is Badminton In The UK in 2021?
Commonly, badminton is played in singles or doubles while players hit the shuttlecock over the net. It’s played in the Summer Olympics and needs a

Gymnastics Statistics: How Popular Is Gymnastics In The UK In 2021?
Gymnastics is popular around the world. People perform the sport in many countries and events, such as the Olympic Games. But how popular is gymnastics

Skiing Statistics UK 2021: How Popular is Skiing in the UK?
Skiing is an exhilarating sport where people can travel at fast speeds down icy slopes. While the UK may not be well known for Skiing,

Swimming Statistics: How Popular is Swimming in the UK in 2021?
Swimming is one of the most popular methods to stay active in the UK, with large numbers of the population engaging in the sport. This

MMA Statistics: How Popular is Mixed Martial Arts in the UK in 2021?
Mixed martial arts has become much more popular in recent years, with the likes of the UFC gaining traction and notorious fighters such as Conor

Tennis Statistics UK 2021: How Popular is Tennis in the UK?
Tennis is a very popular sport in the UK, with exciting fast paced action throughout. These tennis statistics explore exactly how popular it is as