Sebastian Coe competes for Haringey at a British Athletics League meeting in Birmingham in 1986. Photo: Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC

BAL 50th Anniversary publication available to buy

We are delighted to announce that a publication celebrating 50 years of British Athletics League history is available to purchase online.

Copies can be bought for £5, or £8 for two, and £10 for three, which is the maximum order. The cost includes postage and packing, with all money raised going to help young athletes through the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, which has also supported many BAL athletes on their journey along the athletics pathway.

To order, fill out this short contact form by letting us know your name, how many copies of the book you would like, along with the address we should mail them to. We will then be in touch to give you payment details to ensure this process takes place securely.

The publication itself features a range of nostalgic contributions from athletes, committee members, team managers and officials. Olympic champion and President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe said: “The competition has been of constant high standard and I remember fondly my own competitions as a member of the Haringey team that were not only important for the club and its status but were important stepping stones to championships later in the season.”

There are great stories of feats that will impress, surprise and amuse you, from exhausted athletes doubling-up to score points, to guitar sing-alongs on team buses. Liverpool Harriers’ Mike Holmes has provided a fascinating series of archive reports that bring the piece to life, as do images by Mark Shearman and Melissa Gresswell. Statistical information has also been compiled by Peter Matthews, with a club-by-club directory of every team to compete over the last five decades put together by Mike Heath.

Keen for a soundbite? You can listen to author Alex Seftel’s interviews with former BAL Chairmen Dean Hardman and Jack Walters in the England Athletics Podcast.

Should your club be interested in hosting Alex as a guest speaker – by webinar or in person once possible – to talk about 50 years of British Athletics League history, you can also get in touch using the contact form.

Please note that orders will be satisfied on a first come first served basis. No booklets will be sent until payments have cleared so allow please allow seven working days between order and delivery.

We hope you will enjoy the read.