Professor Skillen receives highly prestigious award

Professor Fiona Skillen has received a highly prestigious annual award from The International Society for the History of Physical Education and Sport.

Glasgow Caledonian's Professor of History has been recognised by ISHPES for making a significant contribution to research in sport history.

The umbrella organisation for sports historians bestows its annual award to a sports historian who has published pioneering work.

Previous winners include academics from the US, Brazil, Norway, Germany and Canada.

A former Chair of the British Society of Sport History, Professor Skillen has been a member of the executive committee of Scottish Women in Sport and has done extensive broadcast work for the BBC and STV.

In 2021, The Scottish Football Museum hosted its biggest-ever exhibition on women’s football based on research by Professor Skillen and football historian Steve Bolton.

Dr Malcom MacLean, Chair of the ISHPES award panel, praised Professor Skillen's groundbreaking work on the general theme of the ISHPES Congress. Her research encompasses various aspects, including sporting participation, international relations in sports, and sport heritage studies. Notably, she has been a key part of significant projects like the AHRC CDP studentship between Glasgow Caledonian and the World Golf Museum.

He said: “Fiona's exceptional engagement in the field, despite being in the early stages of her career, is what makes her stand out for this award. However, what truly distinguishes her is her strong focus on public engagement as a historian, particularly concerning heritage. She played a vital role in an EU-funded project exploring sport volunteering and involving third-country nationals. Additionally, she initiated 'Play like a Lassie,' a community group that researched women's sporting history in Scotland for Wikipedia.”

Beyond her research projects, Professor Skillen collaborated with playwrights, delivered public talks and workshops, and contributed to museum exhibitions. Her commitment to policy-focused research and advocacy addressing issues of racism, sexism, and exclusionary practices in football and other sports was said to “demonstrate her dedication to promoting inclusivity”.

She said: “I am honoured to have been awarded this recognition by a panel of my international peers. It is humbling to join the ranks of very esteemed scholars who have previously received this award. I am particularly delighted that this has been awarded as recognition of not only my academic research but also of my public engagement work and I’d like to thank all those who have collaborated with me.”