British Professional Trainers at Stockholm 1912

Massaging the Amateur Ethos

Contempt for specialisation Natural talent Coaching undermined elegance of style

Professionals underwent ‘joyless, mechanical training’

Amateurism and Coaching

Spencer (Sam) Wisdom

‘Choppy’ Warburton

Harry Andrews

Bunyan - Haggert

Sam Mussabini – Harcourt Gold

British Trainers 1912Sport Name

Age 1901 1911

Athletics Alec Nelson 40 Laundry Manager Athletic Trainer

William Cross 50 Athletic Trainer

William J. Parrish 32 Commercial

ClerkManager

(Newspaper)

F.W.G. Thomas 38 Tailor’s Salesman Buyer Athletic Goods

Swimming Walter Brickett 46 Pianoforte Maker Swimming

Instructor

Clara Jarvis 28 At Home Swimming Teacher

Mrs. Holmes 53 No Occupation No Occupation

Cycling John Sykes 47 Gardener Cycle Repairer

H. Thomson ? ? ?

Football Adrian Birch 39 Football Trainer Football Trainer

Wrestling

William Hugo Klein 40 Music Hall Artist

1950 - Professor William Klein at 85

British Trainers 1912Sport Name

Age 1901 1911

Athletics Alec Nelson 40 Laundry Manager Athletic Trainer

William Cross 50 Athletic Trainer

William J. Parrish 32 Commercial

ClerkManager

(Newspaper)

F.W.G. Thomas 38 Tailor’s Salesman Buyer Athletic Goods

Swimming Walter Brickett 46 Pianoforte Maker Swimming

Instructor

Clara Jarvis 28 At Home Swimming Teacher

Mrs. Holmes 53 No Occupation No Occupation

Cycling John Sykes 47 Gardener Cycle Repairer

H. Thomson ? ? ?

Football Adrian Birch 39 Football Trainer Football Trainer

Wrestling

William Hugo Klein 40 Music Hall Artist

1935 - Bill Thomas, with American coaches Keane Fitzpatrick, Matt Geiss

and Tom Keane

Alec Nelson

Great Britain - Stockholm 1912

Application of amateur ethos had different outcomes at different levels of sport

Sports historians have downplayed agency and concentrated on class interests Desborough and Perry

Life courses of those making living from sport can enhance understanding of amateurismTendency to view 1912 Games as turning point

in attitudes to coaching and training in Britain Resistance to American coaching

primarily about issue of control

Implications