Lemmy_kilmister
Well-known member
Is it really a middle /upper class game?
When I was at school in the late 70s/early 80s, only the kids from Acklam and Brookfield seemed to get to play for Stainsby... You rarely if ever saw any kids from Whinney Banks or West Lane get picked.
Then after joining the Forces, I discovered Rugby is always the premier sport. Very much an officer (who is often ex uni student) driven concern. (Except over the last few years, the Army team has become 80% Fijian) now).
Army/Navy at Twickenham is immense... 80 odd thousand attend every May for what always turns into a giant pișș up.
Forces football is never given the same level of attention. You'd guarantee the Old Man was first on the bus to the rugby match, but never went to watch his units football match.
Maybe it's just me coming from a pretty much non-Rugby town, but it's not a working class (if that term still exists) game IMO.
When I was at school in the late 70s/early 80s, only the kids from Acklam and Brookfield seemed to get to play for Stainsby... You rarely if ever saw any kids from Whinney Banks or West Lane get picked.
Then after joining the Forces, I discovered Rugby is always the premier sport. Very much an officer (who is often ex uni student) driven concern. (Except over the last few years, the Army team has become 80% Fijian) now).
Army/Navy at Twickenham is immense... 80 odd thousand attend every May for what always turns into a giant pișș up.
Forces football is never given the same level of attention. You'd guarantee the Old Man was first on the bus to the rugby match, but never went to watch his units football match.
Maybe it's just me coming from a pretty much non-Rugby town, but it's not a working class (if that term still exists) game IMO.