Cumbrian Heroes

Looking Back Rugby Union project “Cumbrian Heroes” is awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund support

Today, Looking Back CIC received a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £42,904, for an exciting project, “Cumbrian Heroes”. The project, developed in conjunction with Cumbria Rugby Football Union, will document, celebrate, and preserve the heritage of Rugby Union in Cumbria will tell the story of every player who has represented the county since 1882 and assign official heritage numbers to all capped players. 

Thanks to National Lottery players, Cumbrian Heroes will record, preserve, and celebrate rugby union in Cumbria since 1882 through its early years as Cumberland and Westmorland Rugby Union to now, as Cumbria Rugby Football Union, by running a heritage project over 18 months which will engage the Cumbrian community clubs, current and former players and supporters alike.

Allison Simpson, director of Looking Back CIC; “Rugby Union has played an important part in the sporting identity and social history of Cumbria.  It has relied on local people to play, officiate and support over the years and we want to use this project to tell that story and bring it to life by working with current supporters of the club and its former players/ officials.”

The main output of the project will be a publicly accessible, fully searchable Cumbria Rugby Union Heritage Database hosted on the CRFU website. The database will comprise of a listing for every player who has represented Cumbria from 1882; their name, a photo (if available), their community club team, the date of their first representative game and any that followed, and if possible, the match reports and any other details.

Commenting on the award, Neil Marston Cumbria RFU Chairman and RFU Council Member  said:  “The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant is a fantastic award for Looking Back – working together with our clubs and supporters  we will be able to create fantastic database which celebrates the rich and varied history of rugby union in the county  and celebrates the players who have represented the county over the years.  The project is exciting and will bring to life the continuing history Cumbrian rugby union for a new audience, as well as for our long-standing, loyal supporters.”

To share your stories of the county game in Cumbria, volunteer on the project and get involved, get in touch with Allison Simpson, project coordinator for Looking Back This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.