The latest event in the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the start of rugby in the city of Leeds has taken place, with a sell-out champagne breakfast at the John Charles Centre for Sport earlier today.
The gathering was a triple commemoration; of the exact date of the first-ever match played in Leeds – a hybrid game between Leeds Athletic and Sheffield; the joint 150th birthday of Hunslet-based sponsors A. Taylor & Son; and the biggest sporting occasion ever staged in the city, when Hunslet beat Leeds in front of over 54,000 fans at Elland Road in the 1938 Championship final.
After a welcome from Leeds Rugby chief executive Gary Hetherington and introduction by Leeds Rugby Foundation Heritage Committee chairman Phil Caplan; Director of Leeds Civic Trust, Dr Kevin Grady, opened proceedings by illustrating how the city of Leeds and its environs looked in the 1860s.
Noted rugby historian Professor Tony Collins talked about the growth of the sport in the city and showed rare footage of a Hunslet versus Leeds match in 1901 and of Hunslet’s success in the 1934 Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
Commercial Director of A. Taylor & Son, David Minskip outlined the history of the company, unveiling a specially-commissioned dvd of their specialist engineering work.
“The partnership with Leeds Rugby Foundation is a great one and today has emphasised exactly that,” Minskip said. “I was privileged to be asked by Gary Hetherington to share this special year in our 150th anniversary and we are all proud of how the events have gone so far and are all excited about the fruitful partnership.”
Regarding the 1938 final, inspirational Leeds Rhinos President Harry Jepson OBE – who was at the game as a Hunslet fan – and author about the match, Les Hoole, were interviewed by Phil Caplan.
Leeds Rugby Foundation Chairman Neil Kaiper-Holmes then closed proceedings with a champagne toast and in-turn to pull the curtain down on another hugely successful morning.
Phil Caplan noted: “This was a wonderful opportunity to bring together 150 years of sport and engineering in a highly appropriate setting. It was a fantastic morning of shared memories.”
Neil Kaiper-Holmes added: “All the speakers gave a fascinating insight into Leeds, rugby and engineering and their simultaneous growth and development. It was fantastic to see the room full of friends, commercial partners, notable personalities of the rugby world and distinguished ex-players.”