Benjamin Howard Baker Sportsman Supreme

Benjamin Howard Baker - Sportsman Supreme is the first time that this incredible all-round British sportsman has been immortalised in print. His achievements covered an era in Britain when the whole nature of sport was being transformed - from before the first World War until the 1930s Benjamin Howard Baker is arguably Britain's finest ever all-round sportsman, and yet his life and competitive career has never previously been written about at any length. He twice competed at the Olympic Games as a high jumper and held the British record for a quarter of a century. He also set an English record for the triple jump and was a fine hurdler and very capably threw the discus, hammer and javelin. He played in goal for Chelsea and for the England professional and amateur international teams. He was also a water-polo goalkeeper and came close to England selection in that game. He was a title-winning tennis player. He was a star turn as an exhibition swimmer and diver. He played cricket at the highest club level. He rowed, sailed, boxed, and ran round the streets at night to keep fit long before jogging became a popular pastime. His achievements covered an era in Britain when the whole nature of sport was being transformed - from before World War One until the 1930s - and he remained, remarkably, an amateur throughout, playing League and international football just for the fun of it. His flamboyant goalkeeping antics for Chelsea made him a favourite with the crowds of 60,000 or more who regularly watched him at Stamford Bridge. His favourite party-trick was a high kick which set the chandeliers jangling at the numerous social receptions to which he was invited. He was so famous in his native Liverpool that express trains from London were stopped specially at his nearest station to let him off. He lived to the age of 95, regretting only that he never had the opportunity to try the 'Fosbury Flop' high-jump technique invented more than 40 years after he retired. No such sporting life as Benjamin Howard Baker's will ever be led again.