RFL Chief Exec Tony Sutton visits rugby league archive at Heritage Quay
The extensive archive that tracks the history of rugby league at the University of Huddersfield’s Heritage Quay recently welcomed a visit from Tony Sutton, the Rugby Football League’s Chief Executive.
Heritage Quay, based in the University’s Schwann Building, is home to the Rugby Football League Archive which contains thousands of items including kit, programmes, recordings, administration records, photographs, posters, memorabilia, player registers and more.
Rugby league was born in Huddersfield, when rugby clubs from Yorkshire and Lancashire met in the town’s George Hotel and agreed to break away and form their own version of the sport, which subsequently became rugby league.
The sport’s archive has recently expanded thanks to a surge in interest in women’s rugby league, and it hosts the Women in Rugby League collection, which includes many items generously donated by two pivotal figures in women’s rugby league in Julia Lee and Jackie Sheldon. Julia was the first woman to referee in the men’s professional game in the 1990s, while Jackie was Head Coach for the Great Britain Women's Rugby League squads in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003.
Tony viewed a selection from the extensive archive alongside rugby league historian Tony Collins, author of Rugby League: A People’s History, and was shown some of the key items from the women’s Rugby League collection by Julia Lee. Julia has coordinated ‘The Pioneering Years’, a collection focusing on grassroots rugby that is part of her ‘Life With The Lionesses’ project.
Tony Sutton is pictured above sat down, speaking to Tony Collins (left) and Julia Lee.
Rugby league membership cards and guidebooks from the late 19th century
A signed ball from a GB Women's tour to Australia from Julia Lee's collection
From a rugby league programme in 1991
A tee shirt commemorating a GB v New Zealand meeting
“I am incredibly grateful to Julia and the staff at Heritage Quay for the time and effort they took to show me round just some of this impressive and precious collection,” says Tony Sutton.
“I was genuinely fascinated as I have always been a big fan of history generally, but in reading first-hand documents from so long ago. It was wonderful to see such items related to our great game, and to see what a great facility Heritage Quay is for ensuring that the history of rugby league is so well catered for so near its birthplace.”
University Archivist Dr Rebecca Bowd added, “We were delighted to welcome Tony Sutton to Heritage Quay to view the Rugby Football League Archive and Women in Rugby League Collection, alongside Tony Collins and Julia Lee. It is a privilege to care for these important collections at the University of Huddersfield and we look forward to working closely with the Rugby Football League to ensure the history of the game continues to be preserved for generations to come.”