Rugby History Thread

[Futtocks]

A documentary about Leichhardt Oval.

 

[Damien]

9 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

A documentary about Leichhardt Oval.

 

A great watch that.

[Futtocks]

Publicity shots for what became the "Beer City Brawl" in Milwaukee. Possibly the only bit of PR Ellery did for the entire trip, because he refused to talk to US reporters when the clubs went over there.

 

[Futtocks]

Looks like there might be a very interesting article in the pipeline.

 

[Futtocks]

Big League: Wales v Papua new Guinea (Swansea, 1991)

 

[Futtocks]

Remember this?

 

[unapologetic pedant]

On 09/03/2024 at 22:31, Futtocks said:

Looks like there might be a very interesting article in the pipeline.

 

Played a couple of years at Swinton. Liked to orchestrate the crowd.

One game at Station Road, he scored out of dummy-half from about half a metre. Could have been the try of the century the way he milked the ovations on the walk back.

[Futtocks]

With talk that Wigan and Warrington are interested in playing a season-opener alongside NRL clubs in Las Vegas, here's their last meeting in the USA.

 

[sheddingswasus]

I am looking for some help. Over at the Oldham RL Heritage Trust website we are missing some full details of a few guest players and trialists who played for us in the Emergency War League from 1940-1945.
Initially  the lads I am looking at are a left winger surname “Howard”  and a scrum half called Peter Riley  Both played around 6 games for us in 1944

 

[Futtocks]

From Bluesky, if anyone can help.

‪Ancient & Loyal‬ ‪@ancientandloyal.com‬
Baines card on eBay now, Broughton Hornets

I’ve come across Broughton Rangers of course, Higher Broughton and Broughton but not the Hornets… anyone have info on the Hornets?

https://bsky.app/profile/ancientandloyal.com/post/3ldoo3artc22p

[Worzel]

On 28/09/2023 at 21:01, Futtocks said:

A documentary about Leichhardt Oval.

 

Love this, missed this post at the time. Powerful stuff.

There has to be an ongoing role for suburban grounds in Australian football. I was a Manly member for a few years when I lived on the northern beaches, and honestly there's nothing on earth like sitting on a hill with some random barbecued meat and a beer in your hand whilst the greatest game on earth takes place in front of you.

Much as I love Preston Road and the delights of East Hull, walking to Craven Park in the sideways rain, I think if push comes to shove I'd probably choose the hill at Brookie

 

 

[JonM]

Seems to be two different clubs of that name appearing in the local newspapers under Northern Union reports. One playing in West Cumbria in the 1890s/ early 1900s and a team from Manchester in the early 1900s.

[Padge]

Broughton Hornets, Cumbrian team, in 1896 played Workington in the County Cup. Definitely a different beast than the Manchester/Salford Broughton.

Edited December 19, 2024 by Padge

[Padge]

Still around in 1902 when tragedy struck.

They were playing a game on Christmas day 1902 (common at the time) against North Manchester. The game had gone to extra time to achieve a result when three players collide going for a high ball. George Harwood from Hulme, Manchester's captain. came down landing on his head and became unconscious, later dying from his injury. Coroner's verdict was he died from concussion of the brain, accidental death.

Edited December 19, 2024 by Padge

[JonM]

17 hours ago, Padge said:

Still around in 1902 when tragedy struck.

They were playing a game on Christmas day 1902 (common at the time) against North Manchester. The game had gone to extra time to achieve a result when three players collide going for a high ball. George Harwood from Hulme, Manchester's captain. came down landing on his head and became unconscious, later dying from his injury. Coroner's verdict was he died from concussion of the brain, accidental death.

As far as I can tell (from looking at the local newspapers), that is the short-lived Manchester junior club called Broughton Hornets rather than the West Cumberland club called Broughton Hornets (who started out playing RU and were part of the mass switch to NU). And I think it's the Cumbrian club on the Baines cards because they're from earlier than the first reported mention of the Manchester junior club. 

[Padge]

6 hours ago, JonM said:

As far as I can tell (from looking at the local newspapers), that is the short-lived Manchester junior club called Broughton Hornets rather than the West Cumberland club called Broughton Hornets (who started out playing RU and were part of the mass switch to NU). And I think it's the Cumbrian club on the Baines cards because they're from earlier than the first reported mention of the Manchester junior club. 

I have updated the guys bluesky feed with that info and a list of fixtures confirming they played in the Manchester and District League, as well as existing as a Cumbrian team.

[Padge]

Its that time of year again when games like this pop up.

WWIII

[Futtocks]

The 1934 Irish Hospitals Trust Trophy. File under "opportunities piddled away".

https://www.ancientandloyal.com/irish-hospitals-trust-trophy

 

Edited February 5 by Futtocks

[corvusxiii]

Rugby League's Big Bang by William Lawless. Just popped up on FB and costs £4.99 on Kindle. Probably won't read it till Crete though so can't recommend it but a nudge to others if they are interested. 

[JonM]

17 hours ago, Futtocks said:

The 1934 Irish Hospitals Trust Trophy. File under "opportunities piddled away".

https://www.ancientandloyal.com/irish-hospitals-trust-trophy

Widnes, Huddersfield, Featherstone R & Workington T (3rd - 6th in that season's table) played an end of season tournament in May 1962 - Dublin Hospitals Cup, organised by Irish athletics promoter Billy Morton.

Morton was an interesting character, who exploits including hunger strike to raise money for the athletics stadium.  He brought #### Blankers-Koen and a number of other Olympic medallists to an event after the London Olympics, resulting in the Archbishop of Dublin speaking out against female athletes and a consequent ban until 1960. He also had to contend with fighting between athletics bodies which represented all-ireland vs those which governed the Republic only, which led to bombs being detonated at one his events. His athletics team was banned from competing in the 1952 Olympics, but they managed to take part in the opening ceremony by joining the Israeli team, who also had green uniforms. Makes some of the oppression faced by RL seem rather trivial - I don't think the rugger types have resorted to planting bombs yet.

[sheddingswasus]

Random hope on this one!  Back in 1972 Oldham fullback win the try of the season award by the BBC. For many years at the Oldham RL Heritage trust we have tried tracking down this clip. We have been in discussion with the BBC over it and sadly it cannot be young although is shown is he archives. Martin is a member of the Oldham RL Hall of Fame and we are currently preparing an event for the Hall of Fame together with a documentary to go with it. 
We had hoped to include it either in the Documentary or on the night  Hopefully Martin will be one of the guests on the evening although he is sadly not in the best of health  

Does anyone have a copy of this please that we could share? 

Thanks