In a prospective study over a period of 5 months (July-November, 1982), 506 patients were treated at a District General Hospital for a sports related injury. All the patients were seen initially in the Casualty Department and the majority of attendances (58%) were due to injuries caused by the two principal contact sports--Association and Rugby football. There were 294 patients (58%) aged 21 or less and 45 (9%) were aged 15. The study was intended to provide a summary that would quantify the local problem and assess both the efficacy of the existing system and the need for a specialist sports injury service.