The BBC2 Floodlit Trophy (also known as the BBC2 Television Trophy) was an annual knockout competition for Britishrugby league clubs. Organised by the Rugby Football League (RFL), the competition was open to all professional clubs with floodlights installed.
First held in 1965–66, games were typically played during the middle of the week, and were broadcast on BBC television. Eight teams competed during the first season, but the tournament was quickly expanded as more teams erected floodlights at their grounds.
The competition's most successful club was Castleford, who won the trophy four times, including the inaugural tournament. The last staging of the competition was in 1979–80, won by Hull, before the competition was cancelled due to financial cutbacks by the BBC.
The tournament was not Rugby League's first foray into evening television; the 1955–56 season saw a tournament titled the Independent Television Floodlit Trophy. Eight clubs participated in a series of games played at football grounds in the London area, with Warrington eventually running out 43–18 victors over Leigh.
In 1965, the rugby league management committee agreed to the televising of a mid-week floodlit competition consisting of eight teams,[1] with director of BBC2, broadcaster David Attenborough, being instrumental in its creation. When the competition was first mooted only a few grounds were equipped with floodlights, but the tournament prompted several clubs to apply for loans from the Rugby Football League to install them.[2] The tournament was intended to coincide with the launch of BBC2 in the North of England.[3]
The tournament was played during the early part of the season. Each week, one match would be played under floodlights on a Tuesday evening; the second half of this match that would be broadcast live on BBC2. Non-televised matches were played at various times, depending on clubs' commitments in more prestigious tournaments. Despite the title many matches did not take place under floodlights; clubs such as Barrow and Bramley (for example) did not possess adequate lighting.[4]
The four-tackles-then-a-scrum rule[6] was first introduced in the competition's second season, in October 1966, before being implemented in all competitions by December.
Castleford won the trophy in the first season, 1965–66 and won the trophy the most times, on three more occasions 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1976–77.
Despite disagreements over shirt sponsorship in the early 1970s, Rugby League remained a mainstay of BBC Television during the 1970s, and 1980s, although the commitment to the Floodlit Trophy decreased before financial cutbacks at the BBC lead to its cancellation after the 1979–80 competition.[4] In the last final, Hull F.C. beat local rivals Hull Kingston Rovers.
^"Hicks will miss semifinal". The Guardian. London. 14 May 1965. p. 17. ProQuest 185064716.
^"Two men can now be replaced". Liverpool Daily Post. 22 June 1965. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Northern viewers will get 'real choice' with BBC-2". The Guardian. London. 6 August 1965. p. 3. ProQuest 185085748.
^ abCollins, Tony (2006). Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A Social and Cultural History. London: Routledge. ISBN9781134221455.
^Dawson, Neil. . wire2wolves.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
^Fagan, Sean (10 February 2011). . Tribe13. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011.
External linksedit
BBC Floodlit Trophy results – Rugby league Project
Hull FC v Hall KR – BBC Floodlight Trophy Final 1979–80
January 01, 1970
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The BBC2 Floodlit Trophy also known as the BBC2 Television Trophy was an annual knockout competition for British rugby league clubs Organised by the Rugby Football League RFL the competition was open to all professional clubs with floodlights installed BBC2 Floodlit TrophySportRugby leagueInstituted1965Ceased1980Country United Kingdom RFL Last winnersHull 1979 Most titlesCastleford 4 titles Broadcast partnerBBC TV First held in 1965 66 games were typically played during the middle of the week and were broadcast on BBC television Eight teams competed during the first season but the tournament was quickly expanded as more teams erected floodlights at their grounds The competition s most successful club was Castleford who won the trophy four times including the inaugural tournament The last staging of the competition was in 1979 80 won by Hull before the competition was cancelled due to financial cutbacks by the BBC Contents 1 History 2 List of finals 2 1 Wins by club 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe tournament was not Rugby League s first foray into evening television the 1955 56 season saw a tournament titled the Independent Television Floodlit Trophy Eight clubs participated in a series of games played at football grounds in the London area with Warrington eventually running out 43 18 victors over Leigh In 1965 the rugby league management committee agreed to the televising of a mid week floodlit competition consisting of eight teams 1 with director of BBC2 broadcaster David Attenborough being instrumental in its creation When the competition was first mooted only a few grounds were equipped with floodlights but the tournament prompted several clubs to apply for loans from the Rugby Football League to install them 2 The tournament was intended to coincide with the launch of BBC2 in the North of England 3 The tournament was played during the early part of the season Each week one match would be played under floodlights on a Tuesday evening the second half of this match that would be broadcast live on BBC2 Non televised matches were played at various times depending on clubs commitments in more prestigious tournaments Despite the title many matches did not take place under floodlights clubs such as Barrow and Bramley for example did not possess adequate lighting 4 The first season 1965 66 eight clubs Castleford Leeds Leigh Oldham St Helens Swinton Warrington and Widnes took part 5 Seven of the eight teams had floodlights and Leeds installed theirs the following season The four tackles then a scrum rule 6 was first introduced in the competition s second season in October 1966 before being implemented in all competitions by December Castleford won the trophy in the first season 1965 66 and won the trophy the most times on three more occasions 1966 67 1967 68 and 1976 77 Despite disagreements over shirt sponsorship in the early 1970s Rugby League remained a mainstay of BBC Television during the 1970s and 1980s although the commitment to the Floodlit Trophy decreased before financial cutbacks at the BBC lead to its cancellation after the 1979 80 competition 4 In the last final Hull F C beat local rivals Hull Kingston Rovers List of finals editYear Season Winners Score Runner up Venue Date 1965 1965 66 season nbsp Castleford 4 0 nbsp St Helens Knowsley Road St Helens Tuesday 14 December 1965 1966 1966 67 season nbsp Castleford 7 2 nbsp Swinton Wheldon Road Castleford Tuesday 20 December 1966 1967 1967 68 season nbsp Castleford 8 5 nbsp Leigh Headingley Leeds Saturday 16 January 1968 1968 1968 69 season nbsp Wigan 7 4 nbsp St Helens Central Park Wigan Tuesday 17 December 1968 1969 1969 70 season nbsp Leigh 11 6 nbsp Wigan Central Park Wigan Tuesday 16 December 1969 1970 1970 71 season nbsp Leeds 9 5 nbsp St Helens Headingley Leeds Tuesday 15 December 1970 1971 1971 72 season nbsp St Helens 8 2 nbsp Rochdale Hornets Knowsley Road St Helens Tuesday 14 December 1971 1972 1972 73 season nbsp Leigh 5 0 nbsp Widnes Central Park Wigan Tuesday 19 December 1972 1973 1973 74 season nbsp Bramley 15 7 nbsp Widnes Naughton Park Widnes Tuesday 18 December 1973 1974 1974 75 season nbsp Salford 0 0 nbsp Warrington The Willows Salford Tuesday 17 December 1974 replay nbsp Salford 10 5 nbsp Warrington Wilderspool Warrington Tuesday 28 January 1975 1975 1975 76 season nbsp St Helens 22 2 nbsp Dewsbury Knowsley Road St Helens Tuesday 16 December 1975 1976 1976 77 season nbsp Castleford 12 4 nbsp Leigh Hilton Park Leigh Tuesday 14 December 1976 1977 1977 78 season nbsp Hull Kingston Rovers 26 11 nbsp St Helens Craven Park Hull Tuesday 13 December 1977 1978 1978 79 season nbsp Widnes 13 7 nbsp St Helens Knowsley Road St Helens Tuesday 12 December 1978 1979 1979 80 season nbsp Hull F C 13 3 nbsp Hull Kingston Rovers The Boulevard Hull Tuesday 18 December 1979 Wins by club edit Club Wins Winning years 1 Castleford 4 1965 1966 1967 1976 2 Leigh 2 1969 1972 St Helens 2 1971 1975 4 Bramley 1 1973 Hull 1 1979 Hull Kingston Rovers 1 1977 Leeds 1 1970 Salford 1 1974 Widnes 1 1978 Wigan 1 1968References edit Hicks will miss semifinal The Guardian London 14 May 1965 p 17 ProQuest 185064716 Two men can now be replaced Liverpool Daily Post 22 June 1965 p 11 via British Newspaper Archive Northern viewers will get real choice with BBC 2 The Guardian London 6 August 1965 p 3 ProQuest 185085748 a b Collins Tony 2006 Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain A Social and Cultural History London Routledge ISBN 9781134221455 Dawson Neil BBC Floodlit Trophy wire2wolves com Archived from the original on 5 March 2014 Retrieved 29 March 2014 Fagan Sean 10 February 2011 Rugby League Helter Skelter Tribe13 Archived from the original on 17 May 2011 External links editBBC Floodlit Trophy results Rugby league Project Hull FC v Hall KR BBC Floodlight Trophy Final 1979 80 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BBC2 Floodlit Trophy amp oldid 1212247570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
