We look back at AW’s history as we celebrate 80 years of publication in 2025
As we move towards 2025 AW: he marks a huge milestone, 80 years since it all began.Back in 1945, Jimmy Greene had the idea to launch a magazine dedicated to athletics, and it has since grown into the iconic publication we know today.
It all started with Green, an ex-RAF man, getting the ball rolling from the bedroom of his country house in Kent.When he first launched the magazine in December 1945, it was called Athleticspocket size, 24 page edition.
The cover featured long jumper Jim Morrish, and despite the fact that post-war rationing meant no new editions could be started, Greene found a way around the rule and told a little white lie, calling the first issue “Volume II No. 1”, the project of life to call
Like the now late ex AW: editor Mel Watman wrote: “As his war service in the RAF drew to a close and Civvy Street beckoned, 36-year-old Jimmy Greene considered the possibility of starting an athletics magazine. He asked for advice and said unequivocally that such a venture would never happen pay for himself, and he should forget it.”
But Green ignored the advice and went ahead anyway, determined to bring something new to the world of athletics.
The magazine’s mission statement was to “bring to all lovers of athletics the latest results, the latest information on upcoming events, club records and news, results and news from the colonies and other foreign countries, and articles of interest to the athlete in general.”
Until 1949 AW: had sold around 5,000 copies, and demand was growing. To meet that demand, Greene made the jump from monthly to weekly Athletics Weekly debuted on January 7, 1950 at sixpence for 16 pages.
As Whatman remembers. “To mark the occasion, Jimmy has doubled the size of his staff, hiring a typist to help him.”
Fast forward another 75 years and AW: In the fall of 2020, it returned to a monthly format, while still delivering the same mix of event coverage, interviews, training tips, results and statistics that readers have come to expect.
When we celebrate 80 years AW: In 2025, it’s incredible to think how far the magazine has come from those humble beginnings in Jimmy Greene’s Kent bungalow.
To celebrate our 80th anniversary this year, you can find our first issue AW: through Athletics Weekly Archive, and look at all our examples over the years.
(From the first issue in December 1945 to the present, current subscribers to our magazine can access this resource for free, while non-subscribers can pay just £399 a month.full access.
» Subscribe to AW Magazine herecheck out our new podcast! here or subscribe to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
