The Belgrave area of Leicester has a long tradition of Rugby playing which is comparable to that of any area of the country.
The city's premier side, Leicester Tigers, started playing in Belgrave in 1880, beating a Belgrave team in 1881 by 1G 2T to nil. Although there is some evidence, which suggests that Belgrave St Peter's was already in existence in 1881, it has always been understood by the club that Belgrave St Peter's was founded in 1883.

By the turn of the century about a dozen clubs had appeared in the area, most of them but not all joining the Leicestershire Football Union. Harrison Street Albion for instance had a very good Rugby team in the 1890's but never joined the Union.
Belgrave clubs that did join the Leicestershire Union included Belgrave Excelsior, Belgrave St Michael's, Belgrave St Peter's, Belgrave Rovers, Belgrave Premier Works, Belgrave Rd Old Boys, Anchor and Syston St Old Boys. As time went on other Belgrave clubs were to appear - clubs like Belgravians, British United and Belgrave Primitive Methodist who later changed their name to Claremont.
Belgrave Rugby Football Club, the area's longest established club was originally Belgrave St Peter's and although the St Peter's part of Belgrave's name was dropped in 1899 the club still remembers with pride it's connection with Saint Peter's Church, Belgrave. The club still has the crossed keys of St Peter on its badge and tie, and in the Centenary year had a club church service in St Peter's Church. It was not the first time the club had a church service because the records tell us that on Sunday afternoon 15th March 1896, what was termed a "football service" was held.

The club's first known secretary was Edgar Smith, who was secretary in 1889 and 1890. He and J.W. Mawby were the two club delegates representing Belgrave St Peter's in September 1890 when the Leicestershire Rugby Football Union had a meeting of the Leicestershire clubs at the Old Horse Hotel on London Road. As well as electing the Leicestershire Union committee at the meeting, a sub-committee was also set up to revise the Union rules.
One of the three men appointed to serve on that sub-committee was Edgar Smith. In the 1890's Mr Smith played in the second team at full back. Living at 6 Shirley St in Belgrave he was the next door neighbour of Mr T. Noble who became club secretary in 1891.
H.G.Vann is a name worthy of a mention. He was club vice-president in 1894 and treasurer in 1895/96, 1896/97 serving on the committee up to the amalgamation with Belgrave Rovers in 1899. He was still a committee man in 1900, being elected club vice-president for seasons 1900/01, 1901/2 and 1902/3.
Doctor Alfred Wilson Emms was without doubt, the club's longest serving president. Born in Surrey around 1850, he was living at the top of Loughborough Road in 1881 with his wife, daughter and two teenage girls who were employed respectively as the family's maidservant and cook. Dr Emms, who later moved further down the Loughborough Road to live on the corner of Roughton Street, was involved in all aspects of community life, serving later as a Justice of the Peace. Dr. Emms was President of Belgrave St Peter's in 1894 and there is a strong possibility that he served as Club President before then. In 1895 when Lord Edward Manners was elected Club President, a position he was to hold for five years, Dr. Emms served as vice-president, becoming club President again in 1900, a position he was to hold until 1920.
The club's earliest records go back to the General Meeting held 1st May 1894 when Dr. Alfred Wilson Emms was unanimously elected Club President and the following gentlemen were elected vice-presidents: - Messrs L.A. Clarke, C. Bowles, C. Fowler, C. Scotney, A.E. Dunkley, H.W. Vann and the reverend R.W.L. Clark.
On the proposition of Mr E. Morley, who had been 1st team captain the previous season, J.W. Garner was unanimously elected 1st team captain and after a vote T. Steedon was elected vice-captain. L. Bradbury was unanimously elected A team captain and after another vote W.Taylor, A team vice-captain. Mr F.Warner was appointed club secretary, Mr E. Richardson assistant secretary, Mr J. Garner treasurer and Messrs Pole, Patrick, Morley, Dunkley, Baguley and Cotton as members of the club committee.
One of the first items on the committee's agenda was the securing of a playing field for the coming season. They made several enquiries and at the cost of three pounds for the season they obtained the use of a field along the Birstall Lane. The field was owned by a Mr. Watts. It was also agreed to pay Lewis Bradley two shillings and sixpence (12 Â½ p) to mark out the field on Saturdays.
The club's headquarters at that time was the Talbot Inn on Thurcaston Rd, where the players would change before having to walk up the Birstall Lane to play. Bill posters advertising the game and team selected would be posted around the Belgrave area the week prior to the match. In 1894 the club charged twopence for men and a penny for boys for admission to the ground for 1st team matches, a penny to all classes for A team matches, two shillings for season tickets and free admission to ladies. It was also usual to have a policeman on duty at the game for which the club received a bill. On such bill received by the club on 22nd October 1894 was four shillings and sixpence. The gate receipts helped cover the guarantees paid by home teams to out of town visitors to cover their travel expenses. One or two pounds was the usual amount guaranteed. Nottingham Rugby Club for example offered a two pounds guarantee when Belgrave St Peter's travelled to play them in 1898.
At that time it would appear that clubs selected their own players to attend trial matches held by the Leicestershire Rugby Union. In 1894 the following players were selected to represent the club in the trial match held on the 1st September.
Threequarters - A. Inchley and G. Russell;
Forwards - E. Morley, F. Warner, T. Patrick, T. Steedon and J.W. Garner.
Also in 1894 the club joined the Midland Counties Football Union. They paid ten shillings and sixpence (52 Â½ p) entrance fee and one guinea (105 p) subscription for 1894/95, entering regularly in the Midland Counties Cup Competition until 1914. Medals
The club's annual subscriptions at this time were three shillings with no mention of any match fees and like so many teams to date they still had a problem collecting these subscriptions.

By the early 1890's Belgrave St Peter's was a flourishing club running two teams. Amongst their regular fixtures at the time were South Wigston, Stoneygate, Oadby, Lutterworth, Nottingham, Leicester A, Coventry A, Northampton A and Bedford Wanderers. Other teams that Belgrave St Peter's have played and have since disappeared include Warwick Avon Rovers, Harrison St Albion, Vulcan Rovers, St Johns, St Luke's,
St Leonard's, Burfield Rangers, Old Humberstone, Granville and Crusaders.
Belgrave St Peter's first achievement in the many cup competitions of the time was in 1891 when J.W. Garner captained the side through to the final of the Junior Cup Competition. They beat Wimbledon at home in the second round by 2 goals 8 minors to 1 minor and in the next round won against Aylestone Rd by 6 goals, 1 try 4 minors to 1 try and 2 minors. The final was played at South Wigston on 1st April 1891 against Lutterworth who lost by 1 goal 2 tries to 1 goal. Mr J Parsons was the referee of what was by all accounts a good game. A gate was taken and the cup was presented to J.W. Garner by Orson Wright at the Clarence Hotel before a large crowd. Speeches were made and J.W. Garner was asked to sign for the cup.

For J.W. Garner this was the start of an exciting rugby career. He captained Belgrave St Peter's the following season and again in 1894/5 and was the first Belgrave player to win a county cap. He joined Leicester and was a member of the first Leicester team to win the Midlands County Cup in 1898. He was captain of Leicester in 1902 when they won the Midlands County Cup for the fifth season in succession.
The following season Belgrave St Peter's played in the senior cup competition and in 1897 met Leicester A team in the Senior Cup final. After the game had to be replayed on the direction of the Leicestershire Rugby Union, the cup was awarded to Belgrave St Peter's who were also winners of the Rolleston Charity Cup that year. The captain of this particular year was T. Patrick.
On the 4th September 1895 Belgrave St Peter's received a deputation from Belgrave Rovers Football Club with a view to amalgamating. After discussion at Belgrave St Peter's Annual General Meeting it was decided to leave the proposal until "Rovers" had been consulted further.
Nothing further was done until 1899 when on 13th May a committee meeting held at the Melton Hotel considered the possible amalgamation of the two clubs. Considerable discussion took place especially relating to the finances of the respective clubs.
It was proposed and seconded that
(a) In case of amalgamation taking place the name of the club in future should be BELGRAVE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB.
(b) That the meeting be adjourned till 16th June, in the meantime both clubs to call a meeting of its respective members to discuss the proposed amalgamation.
On 16th June 1899 Mr. J.W. Clayton reported on the committee meeting of the "Rovers" FC and, the finances of the respective clubs having been satisfactorily secured, Mr H. W. Vann proposed that the amalgamation should take place, the club to be called Belgrave Rugby Football Club and a General meeting be called at an early date to select officers.

Belgrave Rugby Football Club

1. Club house/bar manager