Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain : A Social and Cultural History

Annotation Called €˜the greatest game of all€™ by its supporters but often overlooked by the cultural mainstream, no sport is more identified with England€™s northern working class than rugby league. This book traces the story of the sport from the Northern Union of the 1900s to the formation of the Super League in the 1990s, through war, depression, boom and deindustrialisation, into a new economic and social age. Using a range of previously unexplored archival sources, this extremely readable and deeply researched book considers the impact of two world wars, the significance of the game€™s expansion to Australasia and the momentous decision to take rugby league to Wembley. It investigates the history of rugby union€™s long-running war against league, and the sport€™s troubled relationship with the national media. Most importantly, this book sheds new light on issues of social class and working-class masculinity, regional identity and the profound impact of the decline of Britain€™s traditional industries. For all those interested in the history of sport and working-class culture, this is essential reading. Rugby League In Twentieth Century Britain Uses A Range Of Previously Unexplored Archival Sources To Investigate The Lives Of Those Who Played, Watched And Ran The Sport. It Considers The Impact Of Two World Wars, The Significance Of The Game's Expansion To Australasia And The Momentous Decision To Take Rugby League To Wembley. It Investigates For The First Time The History Of Rugby Union's Long-running War Against League, And The Sport's Troubled Relationship With The National Media. Most Importantly, The Book Sheds New Light On Broader Issues Of Social Class, Gender And Working-class Masculinity, Regional Identity And The Profound Impact Of The Decline Of Britain's Traditional Industries. For Those Interested In The History Of Sport And Working-class Culture, This Is Essential Reading.--jacket. Introduction : The Origins Of Rugby League -- Rugby League And The First World War -- League On The Dole? : The Game In The Depression Years -- Masters And Servants : The Professional Player 1919-39 -- Wembley And The Road From Wigan Pier -- Rugby League In The 'people's War' -- From Boom To Bust 1945-70 -- 'chess With Muscles' : The Rules Of The Game -- The Kangaroo Connection : Anglo-australian Rugby League -- 'sporting Apartheid' : Rugby Union's War Against Rugby League -- The Working-man's Game : Class, Gender And Race -- The Other Amateurs : Beyond The Heartlands -- From Slump To Super League 1975-1995 -- A Proletariat At Play. Tony Collins. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [205]-238) And Index.

Called ‘the greatest game of all’ by its supporters but often overlooked by the cultural mainstream, no sport is more identified with England’s northern working class than rugby league.

This book traces the story of the sport from the Northern Union of the 1900s to the formation of the Super League in the 1990s, through war, depression, boom and deindustrialisation, into a new economic and social age.

Using a range of previously unexplored archival sources, this extremely readable and deeply researched book considers the impact of two world wars, the significance of the game’s expansion to Australasia and the momentous decision to take rugby league to Wembley. It investigates the history of rugby union’s long-running war against league, and the sport’s troubled relationship with the national media.

Most importantly, this book sheds new light on issues of social class and working-class masculinity, regional identity and the profound impact of the decline of Britain’s traditional industries. For all those interested in the history of sport and working-class culture, this is essential reading.

Book Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Plates......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Introduction: the origins of rugby league......Page 16 1. Rugby league and the First World War......Page 25 2. League on the dole? The game in the depression years......Page 38 3. Masters and servants: the professional player 1919-39......Page 58 4. Wembley and the road from Wigan Pier......Page 71 5. Rugby league in the ‘People’s War’......Page 89 6. From boom to bust 1945–70......Page 102 7. ‘Chess with muscles’: the rules of the game......Page 120 8. The Kangaroo connection: Anglo-Australian rugby league......Page 138 9. ‘Sporting apartheid’: rugby union’s war against rugby league......Page 153 10. The working-man’s game: class, gender and race......Page 164 11. The other amateurs: beyond the heartlands......Page 185 12. From slump to Super League 1975-95......Page 195 13. A proletariat at play......Page 208 Appendices......Page 218 Notes......Page 228 Bibliography......Page 251 Index......Page 262 Introduction: The origins of Rugby League Rugby League and the First World War League on the dole? : the game in the Depression years Masters and servants : the professional player, 1919-39 Wembley and the road from Wigan Pier Rugby league in the "Peoples' War" From boom to bust, 1945-75 "Chess with muscles" : the rules of the game The kangaroo connection : Anglo-Australian Rugby League "Sporting apartheid" : Rugby Union's war against Rugby League The working-man's game : class, gender and race The other amateurs : beyond the heartlands From slump to super league, 1975-1995 A proletariat at play. Tells the story of Rugby League through times of great social, political and economic upheaval, using previously unexplored archival sources to illuminate the class-conscious structures that shaped the development of the sport. Tells the story of Rugby League through times of great social, political and economic upheaval. This title uses archival sources to illuminate the class-conscious structures that shaped the development of the sport