Increased leisure time: The Bank Holiday Act 1871 meant sports matches could be arranged on Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day when large crowds could attend; most workers had Saturdays or Saturday afternoons off which enabled them to watch. Better transport: The spread of the railway meant spectators could travel easily and cheaply to support their teams; railway companies ‘special’ trains just for spectators; the growth of motor transport in the 1930s made travel easier. Influence of the radio: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began live outdoor broadcasts of sporting fixtures in the 1920s; events like the University Boat Race, the Derby, boxing matches and cricket attracted large radio audiences. Competitions and Tournaments: Tournaments such as Wimbledon and the Ashes became very popular; the Football League grew (Division 2 was added in 1898 and Divisions 3 north and south in 1921), Rugby Union had its Home Internationals and Five Nations (set up in 1910) tournaments; Rugby League began its own league in Attraction of sporting heroes: The 1920s and 1930s saw the appearance of ‘sporting heroes’ who drew large crowds; these included the tennis player Fred Perry, the cricketers Jack Hobbs and Wally Hammond, the boxer Tommy Farr and the racing greyhound ‘Mick the Miller’. Regional Rivalries: Derby matches in football and rugby attracted large crowds; the ‘Roses’ cricket fixtures between Lancashire and Yorkshire were popular events, as were the rugby internationals between the home nations. Increased leisure time: The Bank Holiday Act 1871 meant sports matches could be arranged on Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day when large crowds could attend; most workers had Saturdays or Saturday afternoons off which enabled them to watch. Better transport: The spread of the railway meant spectators could travel easily and cheaply to support their teams; railway companies ‘special’ trains just for spectators; the growth of motor transport in the 1930s made travel easier. Influence of the radio: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began live outdoor broadcasts of sporting fixtures in the 1920s; events like the University Boat Race, the Derby, boxing matches and cricket attracted large radio audiences. Competitions and Tournaments: Tournaments such as Wimbledon and the Ashes became very popular; the Football League grew (Division 2 was added in 1898 and Divisions 3 north and south in 1921), Rugby Union had its Home Internationals and Five Nations (set up in 1910) tournaments; Rugby League began its own league in Attraction of sporting heroes: The 1920s and 1930s saw the appearance of ‘sporting heroes’ who drew large crowds; these included the tennis player Fred Perry, the cricketers Jack Hobbs and Wally Hammond, the boxer Tommy Farr and the racing greyhound ‘Mick the Miller’. Regional Rivalries: Derby matches in football and rugby attracted large crowds; the ‘Roses’ cricket fixtures between Lancashire and Yorkshire were popular events, as were the rugby internationals between the home nations.