Going For Gold: There’s Never Been A Better Time To Unleash Your Inner Athlete

You know the feeling: Harry Kane has just curled in a free kick for England in the quarter finals of the Euros; Serena Williams has just smashed a forehand down the line to take the Wimbledon tennis crown; Usain Bolt is sprinting towards another Olympic gold - and now you've got the summer sports vibes!

Thanks to lockdown effectively putting last year's sporting calendar on hold, this summer is jam-packed with events, from Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics, and golf's Open Championship to the Tour de France and Euro 2021 (or Euro 2020 - UEFA really don't want to redesign all their merchandise!). Yes, summer sports are back with a bang, and we can’t wait to revel in the rivalry as we watch our favourite figures smash their PBs and raise the winner’s cup high. Plus, of course, get stuck into some of the action ourselves!

So, Ronaldo has just done a million stepovers, skipped past the entire opposition twice, then nutmegged the keeper to score the winner, and all of a sudden you have the urge to make yourself the keepie-uppie king! Or perhaps you’ve spent eight hours watching the Olympics and now you want to emulate your sporting heroes (if not you, your kids certainly will!). That means you’re going to need to clear out the garage - or the random cupboard that's home to anything and everything you haven't used in the past five years – to store those new golf clubs and tennis rackets, mow the lawn or head down the local park, and get some new men’s or women’s activewear to help you feel the part.

But you don't have to spend an absolute fortune gearing up - OnBuy has a great range to get you set up and ready to go, whether that’s for water sports, a kick about, or your new favourite racket sport. This blog will have you out in the sun in no time as we take a look at the inevitable reactions you're going to have to the summer of sport.

You've probably drawn your Euros sweepstake team by now, made sure your TV is ready for the big occasion, dug out your old England shirt, and got the beer coolers and BBQs on standby - if you haven't, you need to check out our easy entertaining guide!

What you probably haven't thought about however, is what happens after the final whistle blows and the kids are crying out to prove they've got what it takes in a garden penalty shootout, or your mates are on the phone urging you to come out for a game of five-a-side down the park.

The great advantage here is that you don’t need a huge amount of football equipment to start playing. It can be as simple as just grabbing a ball and getting outdoors. If you want to get more involved, you can look at our range of football accessories - replica kits, football clothes, football boots and much more - before joining your local club.

Not only a great way to get involved in the sporting spirit, having a kick around with your pals is a fab way to keep fit, burn some of those lockdown-induced pounds, and sink your teeth into some friendly competition. Following Chelsea’s triumph in the Championship League and with the Euros just over a week away, football fever is well and truly in the air - and now is the perfect time to try your hand (or your foot, shall we say) at the nation’s favourite sport!

There's no better feeling than thumping a backhand past an opponent, hitting a cheeky dropshot to catch them out at the net, or pulling out some incredible trick shots like Dustin Brown is doing in this Wimbledon video below! That's why we'll be getting a new tennis racket and heading down the courts just as soon as the French Open is finished. C'est magnifique!

Getting swept up in Murray mania or Henman hysteria seems to be an annual occurrence in the UK every July, along with consuming your body weight in strawberries and cream! With Wimbledon well and truly on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get yourself geared up in anticipation for the sporting season. You’re probably going to need new tennis balls and a racket, though - let’s be honest, the racket has been buried at the bottom of the cupboard under a mountain of boxes since last July and the dog has chewed all the balls to pieces!

Unless you’re a professional player, tennis is probably a sport that’s reserved for the sunnier months. If that’s the case, you may need a little bit of training before hitting the courts. Luckily for you, our shelves are full of tennis equipment that can help to improve your game, from rebounder sets for the back garden to tennis clothes fit for an outing at the All England Club.

If you fancy trying something a little different, there’s always other racket sports like badminton, squash, and racquetball. For those of you who are blessed with a large outdoor space, why not grab an adjustable net, score yourself all the equipment you need, and play a whole host of garden games? You could even grab a volleyball and bring all the joys of the beach to your backyard!

The Olympics is an amazing advert for those summer sports that don't get much time in the spotlight, whether that be more accessible activities like running, swimming, and cycling, or the slightly more obscure like shot put, hurdles, and dressage. A lot of people have limited experience of some of these sports, but who wasn’t inspired by the likes of Greg Rutherford, Chris Hoy, Rebbeca Adlington, Jessica Ennis-Hill at London 2012?

For many of these sports, all you need to do is swap the jeans for something less restrictive, lace up your trainers, and buy some basic equipment. Think less ‘new year, new you’ and more helping hand for your new hobby - you don’t need an expensive gym membership, ultra air resistant skin suit, or a ridiculously streamlined helmet like Hal from Malcolm in the Middle! (For those who aren’t familiar, check out the hilarious clip below.)

But if you’re looking for something a bit more specific, we’ve got that covered too! Yes, from track and field to gymnastics, watersports to wrestling, our online shelves are packed with specialist sports equipment to get you started. Or, if Olympic sports aren’t your thing and you fancy trying out some activities from across the pond, we even stock a great selection of American football and lacrosse gear. So, whether you fancy yourself as the next G.O.A.T (budding Bradys, we’re looking at you!) or simply want to take up a new hobby, we’ve got everything you need right here at OnBuy!

Who hasn't seen Chris Froome hauling himself up Alpe d'Huez or Mont Ventoux on the way to one of his many Tour de France's Yellow Jerseys and not thought how great that must feel? (As well as how are you still going?!) While that might be a step too far for most mere-mortals - and especially for beginners - there are still many beautiful cycling routes to enjoy right here in the UK.

It’s one of your earliest memories, and often a really happy one; getting that first sense of freedom and independence that comes with a bike. No matter how old you get, that sense of joy never leaves you (well, except for when your thighs are screaming as you over-optimistically take on a big hill!). You could even head into the forest and relive your childhood adventures on a mountain bike - just remember your helmet! And if you get fully sucked into the world of cycling, you could even don some cycling clothes and other cycling accessories, like power metres and bottle cages. Before long, you'll be smugly passing drivers stuck in traffic on your invigorating morning commute.

If a more leisurely sport is your thing, it's hard to go wrong with 18-holes on a glorious summer afternoon. That's probably why golf is on the rise - Tiger Woods' incredible comeback story at the 2019 Masters might have had something to do with it too!

Contrary to popular belief, golf isn’t a sport that’s reserved for the more, shall we say, affluent among us. In fact, many courses in the UK are open to new players and you don't need to spend thousands of pounds on golf clothing to look like Phil Mickelson. You should be okay wearing comfortable clothing, although we wouldn't recommend PJs or a baggy tracksuit! Beginners should start with at least a set of clubs, golf balls, tees and go from there. Many courses don't even require a membership; you can simply turn up, pay your fees, then play or head onto the driving range.

If that’s whetted your appetite, check out our large range of sports equipment and make sure you're ready to get outdoors straight after the final whistle, game, lap, mile, or hole. Why not throw a curveball and try something new, like hockey, archery, or kayaking? If you feel like you need to get in shape first after months indoors, check out some of our other sports and fitness blogs and learn how you can spring clean your fitness routine.

Alternatively, we’ve got all you need to get your home ready for the watch parties and after-game refreshments. We’ve taken a look at what you need to consider to make sure you’re ready for unexpected guests and how you can turn your green space into the perfect beer garden! Whatever you choose to get up to this sporting season, with a few essentials in your activity arsenal, you’ll be set to enjoy the best summer on record - whether you get involved in the action or prefer to sit back and watch it unfold from the comfort of your sofa!