England’s greatest ever sportsman

Hamilton for me and I’m not even a fan of f1

Also honourable mention to beckham he absolutely changed football in the late 90s early 2000s on the field he was unbelievable I believe that he was the catalyst for the English game being the envy of the world we took the mantle from Italian football and we’ve never looked back, Barnsley even play in one of the most watched and competitive leagues in the world and I think without him and his marketability this wouldn’t have happened.

 

Jack Greenwell.

 

I'd probably look for someone who was proficient at a number of disciplines rather than one so maybe Daley Thompson, Jess Ennis, Dennis Compton?

 

Sir Steve Redgrave. Not sure it would ever be one with the best cars or horse etc. That’s not knocking such as Lewis. as he is, for me, second to none. Ever in his chosen sport. Do I think others could have matched him given the tools he worked/works with. Possibly. But unlikely, given his total dedication.

 

Can't remember which year it was he said "If you see me in a boat again, shoot me"

4 years later, another Gold medal hanging around his neck lol

 

Botham should be in the mix

 

Redgrave all day. Top of his game for two decades in a grueling sport and having to be extra careful as a diabetic.

 

Hamilton doesn’t have the fastest car this year so that puts pay to that argument

 

And Redgrave?? Bloody pinsent won 4 and hardly gets any recognition

 

Daley Thompson - incredible all round athlete.
Compton - cricket and football for England
Sir Steve Redgrave
Ian Botham
Bobby Moore

Hamilton- not for me nor Beckham either. Don't even think he was best midfielder at Utd - think your user name was a far better player

 

Put him in one of the lesser ones. Then come back to me.
Fastest car means part of it. not the whole.
The track. Attacking the bends. The aerodynamics. I used to watch a bit of bike racing. ( no expert by a country mile btw.) The fastest bikes were brilliant on the straights. But difficult to manoeuvre round the bends. That’s where others competed.

 

No beckham was nowhere near the best but in terms of marketability at that time nobody came close in the premier league and I think he paved the way for the product we see today

 

Ok just watch back the Turkish Grand Prix from last just seals him as the goat of f1

 

I didn’t say he wasn’t great. The best drivers get the best cars. The best jockeys get the best horses.
Your thread. I gave you an honest opinion. You gave yours. I gave mine. No need to get upset.
Or would you like to change the title to greatest ever formula 1 driver. We would probably agree.
As for Beckham. Imho. Not even the greatest ever English footballer. Maybe in your lifetime. Certainly not mine.
Ever. is subjective.
You’re totally missing the point. I’ll leave it there.

 

So not to be included in a debate about England's greatest sports person then ...

 

I'd say Compton lead the way in advertising in sport but he was the best in his sport and played another at international level

 

John Surtees only man to win world championships in F1 equivalent and Moto GP equivalent in his day

 

Good shout on that issue . I’d put WG Grace in a similar bracket. He was more than just a cricketer.

 

C.B. Fry?
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/CB-Fry/