RECORDS OF THE LEICESTERSHIRE RUGBY UNION AND OF RUGBY FOOTBALL IN GENERAL, 1885-1987

CONTENTS

I The Leicestershire Rugby Union, 1885-1970

The Leicestershire Rugby Union (general), 1885-1970

Tours of England and Wales and the Continent, 1907-1924

The Leicestershire Rugby Union Referees Society, 1896-1947

II The Midland Counties and Rugby Football Unions, 1893-1971

III Leicestershire, English and International rugby football teams, 1887-1962

IV Schools' rugby football, 1900-1971

V Personal papers of S.C. Packer, newspaper cuttings and historical notes, 1899-1987

ABBREVIATIONS

L.R.U. Leicestershire Rugby Union

R.F.C. Rugby Football Club

INTRODUCTION

This collection seems largely to represent the historical records gathered throughout the course of the long and distinguished career of Sydney Charles Packer (1873-1961) one of Leicestershire's most prominent rugby football enthusiasts. Packer served as secretary of the L.R.U. from 1902 until 1919, as well as playing for Leicester Albion until 1913, founding the Leicestershire Rugby Referees Society and writing a weekly rugby column for the Leicester Mercury.

Much of the collection seems to represent Packer's zeal for the preservation of any and all evidence of rugby football in Leicestershire. In addition to official records; accounts, minute books, handbooks and fixture lists, the collection contains material relating to the many sidelines of the Leicestershire Rugby Union. The reunions and such social events as the whist league, skating parties and annual dinners are well represented.

The tours of the Leicestershire Rugby Union team are also well documented, the detailed correspondence by which Packer negotiated fixtures and 'guaranteed-gates' complimenting the printed itineraries and match programmes. The continental tours resulted in some unusual souvenirs too, including German and English railway buffet-car menus, a beer mat from Germany and a French comic paper Le Pele Mele. Of great interest also are the letters Packer received from correspondents in Germany, who commented on the 'teething troubles' of Germany rugby football.

Later years of rugby football in the county are largely represented by programmes and press cuttings concerning local as well as international teams. These perhaps show in part Packer's continuing interest in rugby football although the collection represents the work of other hands than Packer's: most notably S.T. 'Van' Hopkins who made great use of the documents in writing his contributions to the book Leicestershire Rugby Union 1887-1987 (L.R.U.) 1986.

<span class="wrapper"><p>See also: 23D56 Records of Leicester Football Club, 1889-1952</p> <p>DE 3075 Harborough Football Club minute book, 1875-1895</p> <p>DE 3320 Leicestershire Rugby Union Records (additional deposit), 1887-1986</p></span>

Deposited on indefinite loan: November 1986