Rugby club honours past players with exhibition

The Black Green and Golden Age of Northampton Saints showcases unseen memorabilia, and key archival materials from the club's sides of the 1950s and 1960s

An exhibition celebrating a rugby club's glory years has opened, offering a glimpse into a defining period in its history.

The Black Green and Golden Age of Northampton Saints, curated by the Northampton Saints Foundation, showcases the team's achievements over the 1950s and 1960s.

The displays are hosted at the cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens and showcases historical photos, programmes, shirts and other memorabilia.

Clare Clarke, the foundation's heritage lead, said these two decades were a "key era".

She recalled how the Saints was home to Lions players, internationals and people still involved at the club who crossed the white line during the period.

The exhibition is open on selected days until the end of May

In the 1950s, the Saints firmly established themselves as one of the top rugby teams in England, helped by Gordon "Doc" Sturtridge and Jerry Gordon.

As the decade went on, the club became known for producing some of the best backline players in England including Jeff Butterfield, a centre, whose performances on the 1955 British & Irish Lions tour earned him lasting admiration in South Africa.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project has seen Northampton Saints Foundation's heritage team delve into the stories of all 287 Saints players from the era, as well as collect and digitise more than 2,000 items of memorabilia.

Sourcing memorabilia was a challenge for the team at times.

"Game shirts were worn until they perished... we had a rugby ball handed in three days ago that we believe is from the late 60s," Ms Clarke said.

Former player Steve Watkins, who made 32 appearances for the Saints from 1969, added: "I think it's amazing to look back at the heritage of the club... It's had a very big impression on my life."

The Black, Green and Golden Age of Northampton Saints is open on 21, 22, 28, 29 and 31 May.