New exhibition celebrates Rugby's sporting life

Our Sporting Life features a host of memorabilia from sports clubs and the town's sporting talent, including trophies, medals, programmes and photographs.

The exhibition also includes a celebration of the history of Rugby Town Football Club - with the match ball from the club's FA Vase victory at Wembley Stadium on display.

Rugby's place in sporting history was cemented by William Webb Ellis in 1823, but Our Sporting Life reveals the town's passion for a host of other sports.

Featured memorabilia showcases fishing, boxing, cricket, cycling, polo, swimming and, of course, rugby.

Our Sporting Life also reveals how big companies in the borough encouraged staff to have sporting social lives, with firms such as British Thomson-Houston establishing a number of clubs and teams.

And football fans can discover the 60-year history of Rugby Town Football Club, which was formed by teenagers in New Bilton and was first known as Valley Sports.

The 60 Years of the Valley display features items on loan from the club's archives, including mementoes from VS Rugby's FA Vase cup run, when Ian Crawley netted the winner in the final at Wembley in 1983.

Our Sporting Life opens at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum on Saturday 28 January and runs until Saturday 25 March.

Cllr Heather Timms, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for growth and investment, said: "Rugby has a rich sporting history beyond its status as the birthplace of the game and this new exhibition lifts the lid on a number of fascinating moments and achievements in Rugby's sporting life.

"The exhibition includes a number of items from the Museum's social history collection and, together with items on loan from Rugby Town Football Club, gives a real insight into grassroots sport in the town.

"Combined with a visit to the World Rugby Hall of Fame, Our Sporting Life promises to be a must-see for the town's sports fans."

For more information about exhibitions and events at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, visit www.ragm.co.uk

Photo caption: Our Sporting Life features the match ball from VS Rugby's FA Vase triumph at Wembley in 1983.