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25 years ago today - Last-ever Edition of The Sporting Life Newspaper
25 years ago today - Last-ever Edition of The Sporting Life Newspaper
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Fond memories of picking up the SL at the station and the complicated folding and refolding it to read on a slam-door train on my commute to the City in the 90s.
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Great Thread onlooker, I have the last R.P. stored safely in a draw under the bed and take it out now and again when nostalgia hits...
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Sporting Life is what I meant...
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driver2: Would that have been when George Robinson was the Life's man behind the bushes on the Newmarket gallops?
He and his brother-in-law Arty Edwards ('Our Newmarket Correspondent' in The Times) were supposed to have spent each winter noting the markings of the 1,300 horses in training in Newmarket, then memorizing each one of them. I don't suppose there would be any point in doing that now, as so few trainers actually gallop their horses any more. |
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If Thr Sporting Life had had an Editor who understood racing, betting and the product it might still be here today.
Lots of good blokes on the paper, but sadly none of them was in charge. The "reader-friendly" reshuffle did for the paper, forcing betting shops to have to buy two copies and giving the Racing Post a way to go for the jugular with their Betting Shop Edition. |
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Sorry screaming, I don't remember their names.
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In its heyday under editor Ossie Fletcher the Life was a great paper. with great writers as mentioned by others. Don't forget Campaigning Journalist of the Year John McCririck (think he won the award twice). Also Gus Dalrymple deserves a mention. The Life went right downhill after the huge change in the printing industry started by Eddie Shah on Today. Full colour offset printing replaced black and white Linotype machines. The Mirror group, of which the Life was part, was left in the stalls with the blindfold on as Murdoch stole a march. In the 80s it was a case of 'any Life on Saturday?' and if they did manage to get an edition out it was crap - missing sections and terrible use of colour. The Racing Post was welcomed with open arms - well-produced, good content and always on time. Shame it's now a shadow of its original self. Anyway thanks to all for the memories of a great Life.
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The sportsman was never given a chance I thought it was a good racing paper.
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I much preferred the Racing Post at the time. The SL had the feel of the FT. It wasn't practical and felt very outdated. It may have had some good content, but just didn't look appealing. Good for sticking on betting shop walls and felt like that was it's purpose. Obviously it had no future with the digital age oncoming.
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Sporting Life was different class to the Racing Post.
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From memory it was horses only?
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and greyhounds obv
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In hindsight wish more had given The Sportsman a chance though I found the layout messy on the eye and gave up quickly trying to get use to it. I'm sure they'd have eventually sorted it out but they clearly did not have the funds for hope inspired patience.
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