Sport
Hinckley has one football team, Hinckley United, who compete in the Conference North. Hinckley United was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of Hinckley Town and Hinckley Athletic, and is known as the Knitters — a nickname that comes from the town's history as a textile-producing centre. In 2006, a Hinckley United player, Matt Gadsby, died during a match against Harrogate Town.
The only rugby club, Hinckley Rugby Club was formed in 1893 and has been based at the Leicester Road Sports ground since 1968. Hinckley RFC have been involved in league rugby since 1987, during which time the first team has been as high as National League 3 North (level 4). They currently reside in National 3 Midlands (level 5).
The town's largest school, John Cleveland College, is noted for its many achievements on the rugby field and has produced many professional players, many of whom have gone on to play for England. These include England and Leicester Tigers legends Graham Rowntree and Dean Richards, as well as current pros Ollie Smith, Sam Vesty and Manu Tuilagi. Vesty is the most recent ex-JCC man to make his international bow, coming on as sub against Argentina at Old Trafford in June 2009.
There is also one basketball team—the Hinckley 69ers; a name derived from the town's proximity to the M69 motorway. It was founded in 1974 and has involved some staff, ex-students and current students of John Cleveland College, as well as other interested, local players, throughout most of its history. The team play in Division 2 of the Leicestershire men's amateur league, having been promoted in the 2007/08 season. The 2007/08 season was one of the team's best performances, with a cup win too. The team are based at John Cleveland College and have home games and training there every Friday at 7:00 pm.
Hollycroft Park, in the centre of Hinckley is recognised as a great area for sports—the park contains two tennis courts, a golf pitch n putt and a lawn bowls green with pavilion.
Hinckley has one high performance Gymnastics Club based at Clarendon Park. In its 30 years of existence, it has never failed to have a number of its members competing for their home nations or for Great Britain.
Hinckleys longest established priviate fitness club is Empire Fitness (formally John's Gym), www.EmpireFitness.net
Hinckley Ladies Netball Club is based at Redmoor High School and has four senior teams in the Coventry and Warwickshire Netball League.
Club Republic is a short drive.
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