As we continue Engage’s 20th birthday celebrations, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to look at some of our favourite sporting events of the last two decades.
From football, cricket and rugby to an incredible home Olympics, there have been so many iconic moments since we launched – and fingers crossed there are a whole lot more to come. Here’s to another 20 years!
2005 Ashes
As we look back on 20 years of Engage, we’re going back to the very start for one of our favourite ever events and arguably one of the best in English sporting history. The 2005 Ashes has become an iconic win, mainly due to it being England’s first Ashes success since 1987.
The England side was packed full of superstars, including Freddie Flintoff, Michael Vaughan, James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss. It was considered one of the tightest Ashes series in history, which only adds to the elation surrounding England’s glory.
The hosts ran out 2-1 winners, with one match drawn and another decided by a two-run margin. The result came down to the final day of the series and after Pietersen scored his first ever Test century, England were crowned winners on an emotional day at The Oval.
FA Cup finals
There have been so many incredible FA Cup finals since Engage started, both in Cardiff and at Wembley. Nine different teams have won the competition in the last 20 years, with Chelsea topping the pile having lifted the trophy five times in that period.
Despite their dominance, the Blues were on the losing side of one of the best finals in recent history. They lost 1-0 to Leicester back in 2021, with Youri Tielemens bagging the winner.
Another low scoring but iconic final came back in 2013. A year after winning their first Premier League title, Manchester City were looking to add another FA Cup to their collection. But they came unstuck against Wigan and a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Ben Watson secured the trophy for the relegated side.
And arguably the greatest FA Cup final of the modern era came back in 2006. Liverpool met West Ham in Cardiff and after an end-to-end battle, Steven Gerrard stepped up to fire in a late equaliser to make the game 3-3. Gerrard then found the net again as Liverpool triumphed in a penalty shootout.
Six Nations
The Guinness Men’s Six Nations is currently underway, which has given rugby fans up and down the country the chance to look back on some of the best tournaments of the last 20 years.
In that time, England have won the competition four times and they still harbour hope of adding a fifth this year. Their most impressive victory in that time was their Grand Slam win back in 2016. Owen Farrell was on fire that year, topping the scoring charts as England stormed to victory.
It came down to the final night and England needed to win in France to secure a record-breaking 13th Grand Slam. And they didn’t disappoint as they held on to record a famous 31-21 victory.
Andy Murray
For so many years, the British public were starved of a tennis superstar that the entire nation could get behind. That was until Andy Murray came along. The Scottish sensation was at the top of the game for much of the last 20 years, becoming an established member of the so-called ‘big four’ alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
After losing the 2012 Wimbledon final, Murray went one better the following year to become the first British man to win the famous competition since Fred Perry back in 1938. He added the Wimbledon title to his maiden Grand Slam, having won the US Open the previous year.
Murray went on to win Wimbledon for a second time in 2016, the same year he secured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal. The tennis legend also won gold on home soil back in 2012, beating Federer in the final.
Women’s Euros
While England’s men’s football team have come so close in recent years, losing two consecutive Euros finals, the women have gone one better. Sarina Wiegman has been a sensation since taking charge and she masterminded the Lionesses’ first ever major trophy back in 2022.
England strolled through the group stage, winning all three games before seeing off both Spain and Sweden in the knockouts. They met old rivals Germany in the final and after matching one another in normal time, substitute Chloe Kelly scored a sensational winner in extra-time.
Cricket World Cup
England aren’t used to winning World Cup finals, which explains the jubilant scenes on one sunny day at Lord’s back in 2019. After a thoroughly entertaining Cricket World Cup, hosts England faced the daunting task of trying to get the better of New Zealand.
And they just about did. After finishing level on 241 runs after 50 overs, the final was sent to a Super Over for the very first time. Ben Stokes, who scored an unbeaten 84 runs in his innings, returned to the crease with Jos Buttler and the pair combined to score 15 runs.
The Kiwis needed to beat it and looked to have done so with the final ball of the match. But as Martin Gupthill raced back to secure the winning run, Jason Roy found Buttler’s glove to deliver a dramatic run-out and hand England the World Cup.
London 2012
No sporting event has completely united the country quite like the London Olympics back in 2012. From the incredible opening ceremony to the weeks of events, there was a feeling of unity, joy and inclusivity across the nation for much of the summer.
A lot of that came down to how successful Team GB were throughout the games. As hosts, we won an incredible 65 medals, including 29 golds. Murray triumphed in tennis, Anthony Joshua won in boxing and the cycling team were on fire, with the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Laura and Jason Kenny and Victoria Pendleton winning multiple gongs.
Meanwhile, the athletics team delivered one of the most incredible days in British sports history. Dubbed ‘super Saturday’, 4th August 2012 saw Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all claim gold in their respective events. Farah went on to secure a second gold medal a week later, capping a sensational summer of sport for Team GB.
