The Owen Whittle Cup was a charity cup game played annually between Belgrave and South Wigston. It was in 1925 that club vice-president, Fred Owen, offered to pay half towards the cost of a cup for the "Boxing Day Infirmary Match". Mr Whittle, an official of South Wigston Rugby Club, paid the other half. The first Owen Whittle Charity Cup was played on Boxing Day morning 1925 at South Wigston, with the home team winning 6 points to nil.
The first Boxing Day morning Charity game between the two clubs took place at South Wigston 1921, with Belgrave winning 10 points to 3. They played again the following year on Boxing Day, but the game was recorded as an Alliance Combination match. Boxing Day games also took place in 1923 and 1924. South Wigston won in 1923 by 1 goal 1 try to 1 try and also beat us in the 1924 game, which was recorded as a "friendly" by 6 points to 3. Belgrave first won the Owen Whittle Cup on 27th December 1926. The game, scheduled to take place on Boxing Day 1927, wasn't played because of snow and the next Owen Whittle game took place on Easter Monday 1929, a game Belgrave won 11 points to 3, from then on the game was always played on Easter Monday. The normal procedure was to take a collection from the spectators during the game and the money raised was donated to the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Club activities were again brought to a halt by another war in Europe. They soon commenced after the war but were never to reach the high playing standards set in the earlier part of the century.
Ill fortune struck in 1951 when the pavilion at Belgrave pastures was damaged by fire. Fortunately the damage was not too severe and was soon repaired, enabling the club to carry on without too much disruption.
In the late 1950's the club sometimes struggled to field a side and often travelled away short-handed; but the small band of players stuck together and in the early 1960's the club again turned out two teams, and before the end of the decade three teams were regularly turning out.

Throughout the 60's & early 70's Committee Meetings, Social Evenings and the "After Match Meals" were all held at the Packhorse Inn until it's demolition in 1971. The Committee then agreed in principle to continue to give "our custom" to the present landlord when he acquired the Cherry Tree in Bond St.
At that particular time the pub would open to serve the meals (free to the opposition but 3 shillings (15np) to club members)) but could not serve alcoholic beverages until 5.30pm.
An Xmas raffle was organised in 1969, tickets were 1 shilling each (5np) in books of 10 and the raffle prises were: - from club funds A Case of Vintage Champagne - Bottle of Port & Sherry - A 1lb box of Chocolates and 10 Manikin Cigars. Prizes donated by club members were -A Gas Lighter - Bottle of Whiskey - Basket of Fruit - Fifty Cigarettes and a Record Token.
BRFC in 1969 were also in a position to open a savings account for monies surplus to the running of the club. Barclays bank, Melton Turn, was the bank used and 6% was the rate offered. An opening balance of £100 was deposited and the treasurer and club secretary were the designated signatories.
At a committee meeting on Jan 27th 1971 a discussion took place regarding the use of the Old Pavilion. As the changing facilities were shared and the building was now in it's twilight years it was thought that new Changing Rooms were now needed exclusively for the members of BRFC. A site was pencilled in near the old Police Box, which was opposite to the Old Pavilion. A rough cost of £650 was estimated for this project with a projected cost rise of 10% extra each year.
The committee also approved the use of the Cherry Tree Pub as the next season's headquarters.
At an Extraordinary General Meeting on the 20 Dec 1971 it was decided after much discussion to build the Changing Rooms and a Clubhouse in one go (Changing rooms first followed by the Clubhouse).
In 1972 plans were well in hand for a small clubhouse to be built on the Belgrave pastures.
Brickwork on the new clubhouse started on Saturday 29th April 1979 and the brick building was built entirely by club members who also built the extension, which doubled its size. Approximately 12,000 bricks were used on this project. Unfortunately our then President Ramsey Ward was killed in a car accident and would not see its completion.
By 31st January 1973, £855 pounds had been spent on this new project, eventually rising to £1304 by May of that same year. Brickwork up to the roof was complete also roof timbers were in place, "bricking up" the gable ends would complete the outer shell.
Around September 1973 "Club Objectives" discussed included the extension of the existing building and the possibility of a third pitch.
At one particular committee meeting (still being held at the Cherry Tree) a reference was made to the effect that "Petrol Rationing" could have an effect on away matches and infact by February 1974 a proposed levy of 5p was made for away matches. Also at this time was the introduction of the "Three Day Working Week" which again also proved to be problematical.
In 1974 match fees were 40p (seniors) and 20p (juniors), petrol allowances of:
15 miles = 1 gallon (50p)
25 miles = 2 gallons (£1.00)
35 miles = 3 gallons (£1.50)
were introduced and new aluminium posts and sockets were purchased for £20.
In 1975 a "Wives Committee" was formed to assist in the social side of the club, also in 1975 all committee meetings would now be held at Belgrave Pastures and not the Cherry Tree Pub.
In 1976 it had been a particularly dry hot summer and due to these conditions it was proposed that all of the September Fixtures be "Cancelled" pending a change in the weather and pitch condition. Also up until '76 only one "Training Light" was available now three more were obtained.
Things were beginning to roll along smoothly and at a committee meeting held on the 30th Nov 1976 the committee was advised that the trustees have given:
1) Permission to build an Extension (30ft x 24ft)
2) Permission to apply for a Bar License
3) The promise of another Pitch should on become available
4) An assurance that the lease be reviewed.
Also in '76 the committee recognised that John Law had been a "Playing Member" of Belgrave RFC for 25 years and that a "Jersey and Tankard" be presented.
The total Clubhouse building project would be completed in 1980 at a cost (due to the efforts of club members and purchasing materials as and when needed) of £2,503. This figure could have well exceeded £10,000 if an outside contractor had been involved.
In 1979 the club committee asked Alan Pick if he would form a junior colts team. Alan, who had played regularly for the club in the 1950's and 1960's, worked hard contacting local schools and youth centres and started about twenty boys aged between thirteen and fifteen. A game was arranged against Syston's under fifteens and to everyone's surprise the side showed a lot of promise, beating Syston with some good rugby.
An interested spectator at that game was John Coupland who was coming to the end of his playing career. John offered to coach the team and Alan Pick became manager and fixture secretary. Eight more games were played that season resulting in seven victories. The team was also invited to play in South Leicester Rugby Football Club's Junior Colts Cup Competition and reached the semi-final. They lost to eventual winners Nuneaton.
In 1979/80 the team played twenty-two games winning nineteen and losing three. The following season 1980/81, the team with the addition of some new players, became full colts. Most of the boys were only about sixteen years old and with the age for the colts being sixteen to eighteen the boys often played against teams who were older. This age gap did show in the early season results - the record up to Christmas 1980 shows they lost 9 games and won 2 - but by the end of the season their record improved and they finished with thirteen victories and eleven defeats. Entering the County Colts Cup they beat Birstall in the first round by 6 points to nil. The played favourites and eventual winners, Lutterworth, in the next round and lost 15 points to 12. In the 1981/2 season twenty-four games were played and only three games ended in defeat. This was to be the season that a Belgrave team won a long awaited cup.
The colts successful cup run started with a first round game against Vipers, a close game in which Belgrave won 9 points to 3. In the quarterfinal, highly rated Hinckley were the opponents, but a great team effort enabled Belgrave to win 13 points to 7. In the semi-final they beat Lutterworth 19 points to 6. The Leicestershire County Colts Cup final was played on Leicester Tigers Welford Road ground against local rivals Syston. The game was a very close one with Belgrave winning 12 points to 9.
Six members of the County Colts Cup winning team were selected to represent Leicestershire Colts.
The players - John Muggleston, Mark Fritch, Neil Smith, David White and Greg Mason - all now playing for the club's senior teams.
The colts again reached the cup semi-final the following year after beating Vipers 29 points to 6 and Aylestone St James 15 points to 6. They were unfortunate to lose 6 points to 3 against eventual winners Market Bosworth.
The early eighties became a period of "Highs and Lows" for Belgrave RFC. On the one hand teams throughout the club were playing exceptionally well but on the other hand there were internal problems trying to secure the lease. Meetings were held between Belgrave RFC, Southend FC and Belgrave WMC FC discussing joint efforts on how to secure the lease.
At one committee meeting (06/09/82) solely for BRFC members the general feeling after much discussion was to persue the possibility of obtaining a new ground possibly on the then new Beaumont Leys Development. Also a letter was sent to BUSMC re the sale of their playing fields on the top of Mowmacre Hill.
A vote of thanks was given to J. Coupland for his success with the running of the "Colts" team and it was agreed to present all of the "Colts" squad with a plaque for winning the "Leicestershire Colts Cup". John then agreed to become the "First Team" coach with R. Broughton taking over the "Colts".
A separate electricity supply was installed this year at a cost of £140. Talks were also taking place regarding the "Centenary Celebrations" for the coming 1983 / 84 season. R. Ward BRFC's President agreed to be the "Centenary Celebrations Secretary". The celebratory year would include a "Presidents v BRFC" game, a Centenary Dinner Dance at the Centre Hotel (15-10-83) guests to include: - Lord Mayor & wife - Cannon K. Quinne & wife - President of LRU - Hon Sec LSRUR - plus guest from Leics Tigers possibly the President & wife.
A commemorative service to be held on Sept 16th Sept 1983 at St Peters Church Belgrave. John Goddard to read the lesson.
A possible "Centenary Tour" to Amsterdam.
A Garden Fete to end the Centenary Year.
Suggestions for memorabilia to include: - Special Wallets - Pennants - Club Jumpers - Club Ties, Key Fobs and Blazer Badges.
The 1983 / 84 Centenary season turned out to be a very successful time for BRFC with all of the above events taking place.
Another club landmark took place on Saturday 17th September 1983 when the club fielded a fourth senior team and colts. For the first time ever five teams represented Belgrave.
On Sunday 28th April 1985 a "Presidents Day" was held and apart from the usual game of rugby (Presidents team winning 21-9) presentations were made to J. Norman (Clubman of the Year). A tankard and Club tie to Denis McAtee on reaching 25 years service to the club and a glass tankard to Tony Haddon Captain of the Presidents team (2 previous seasons) for his help and commitment to the team.

The early nineties became a very significant and rewarding time for Belgrave. The club was flying high and holding their own in Midlands 1 and under the coaching and leadership of Andy Sewell six playing members Dave Lamb, David (Lurch) Borland, Eddie Benison, Craig Broughton, Ivan Wright and Paul (PJ) Coupland were all playing regularly for Leicestershire.

Times were good and with excellent results the feel good factor was high, Belgrave was on the move!
Running three senior teams and a Colts team was never a problem and there always seemed to be an abundance of players.
In the mid nineties New Parks Old Boys who were starting to struggle with fixtures etc were offered a life-line to go and play at Belgrave which they accepted. New Parks eventually became defunct and the nucleus of New Parks playing members joined forces with Belgrave.

Players were filtered through from the 1st XV through to the 3rd XV once again creating strength in depth; also a dominating Veterans Team emerged.
Three County Cup Finals were reached by Belgrave such was the enthusiasm and commitment within the club. Loughborough Students (twice) and Hinckley were the adversary’s. The last encounter on May 11th 1999 was against Loughborough Students.
With the aid of the RFU, a Lottery grant and a lot of hard work by club members our new Clubhouse was eventually opened in September 1999. Dean Richards hitherto, the most successful Leicester Tigers Coach ever kindly agreed to officially open the new clubhouse.

At a cost of well over £300,000 it was a state of the art building with six fully equipped centrally heated changing rooms, separate Referee and First Aid room and an Air Conditioned Function room that would seat over one hundred people with Licensed Bar, Kitchen and Disco.
Two special games were arranged for the occasion.
Belgrave Veterans played Leicester Thursday Veterans and Belgrave 1st Team played
The end of the Twentieth Century and the early Twenty First Century saw a significant downturn the number of players within the club.
Injuries and retirements played their part but the biggest and most damaging factor was the introduction of the “Paid Player”.
Clubs that could afford to pay players were “Ripping” the game apart.
Inducements and incentives of all types were offered, from Match Bonus’s and Petrol Payments, to Kit Allowances. It didn’t just stop with senior players many colts were also targeted causing certain teams to be unable to complete League Fixtures. It was a very disappointing and depressing time in our amateur game.
Belgrave were now residing in Midland 3 East North but still managed supply three County players.
Greg Garner, John Hemsley and Dave Towl all made regular appearances with Dave Towl who also went on to Captain the side.
There was light at the end of the tunnel though, 2004 was the year that Belgrave received it’s “Seal Of Approval Certificate” an honour bestowed onto only two other clubs in Leicestershire Coalville and Kibworth. This certificate ensured that Belgrave had a futuristic plan of action and that everything was in order from Coaching, to Child Protection and from Health and Safety to the administration. It was a difficult project but one man Alan Tew volunteered to take it on. Alan with the help of John Goddard (Sec BRFC) and Nick Scott (Rugby Development Officer) spent weeks producing stats and reports finally achieving the end result

It was also the year a grant was awarded for new Floodlights to be erected and a new pitch with a total area of 116mtrs x 66mtrs to be re aligned and reconstructed again John Goddard must be thanked for his commitment to this project.
A new lease was signed and Belgrave also gained the lease for the ground occupied by the Football Club.
The end of the 2003 – 2004 season saw the re introduction of the Presidents Day Fixture a relaxing and friendly affair after a tough league season. April 25th was the date, Belgrave was the venue and a team consisting of various Leicestershire club players provided the opposition. The Presidents Team managed by Andy Sewell finishing up the winners by 41 – 27.
2004 saw a venue change for Belgrave’s annual presentation evening. Traditionally it has always been held at our headquarters but by way of a change it was decided to hold it at the Tigers Ground in the Underwood Suite.

The 2004 – 2005 leagues were restructured from 10 games to 12 games. New venues included Coalville, Grimsby and Lincoln, as well as Glossop, Paviours, Loughborough, Notts Moderns, Mellish, Matlock, West Bridgeford and Ilkeston.
Elected captains for the 2004 – 2005 Season were:
1st XV Greg Garner, 2nd XV James Regan, 3rd XV TBA
Colts XV Adam Davey.
Aug 2004 saw the removal of the original floodlights (to make way for the new ones) and the re-positioning, re-sizing (from 86mts x 62mts playing area to 96mts x 66mts playing area) and marking of the First Team Pitch. September 2004 also saw the re aligning and resizing of the Second Team Pitch making it the same size as the original first team pitch and now parallel to the First Team Pitch.
23rd Sept 2004, work has now started on the replacing of the original floodlights. Concrete bases approx 6 feet square were laid ready for the erection of the lights. Unfortunately because of legal reasons we were too late and unable to re-construct the new pitch. This now we be carried out in the spring / summer of 2005
Sept 2004 saw the presentation (On Loan to Belgrave) of a unique set of early Rolleston Cup Medals (19 in all) owned by the Anstee Family. These medals were won in the early Twentieth Century from 190 - 1950.
The 04th October saw the erection of the Floodlight Masts (8 in all). Because of the poor weather conditions, work on the Floodlights was exceptionally slow Oct 27th still hasn’t seen the completion of this task. Unfortunately being October and having no lighting is affecting the Evening Training for all the playing squad.
Sat Oct 23rd was the official presentation day of our (Belgrave RFC) “Seal Of Approval Certificate”. This presentation took place at the Leicester Tigers Football Club at half time in a Heineken Cup Match between the Tigers and Calvisano a match in which the Tigers won 37pts to 6pts.
The presentation was made by Neil Haynes and accepted on behalf of BRFC by Roger & Craig Broughton (Father & Son).
Thurs Nov 18th 2004 Finally the new Floodlights are complete reset and tested.
By the end of Nov 2004 a feasibility study and plans were being discussed in view of an extension to the clubhouse which would include another function room, a fully equipped Gymnasium and more much needed storage space.
Despite a poor start to the season, by Christmas, Belgrave were back on track winning 7 from a possible 12 games.
A decision not to travel to Hereford in the Intermediate cup was a blow and has meant a ban for Belgrave from this competition in the 2005 – 2006 Season.
However with a bye in the first of the round of the County Cup and 2 excellent wins against Lutterworth and Coalville (both in extra time) led to a Semi Final match at home to Leic’s Lions (March 06th) and although this game proved to be the end of our cup run it was by no means a walkover. This was the team that were flying high in Midlands One and had a 100% winning record. This was the team that had just reached National level and would be playing teams such as Nuneaton, Kendal, Rugby Lions and Fylde. This was the team that had come to Belgrave thinking it would be just another training session, how wrong they were. Pride and passion were the two virtues in our favour. Admittedly we were put under enormous pressure in the first half but the harder they tried the stronger and more resolute our defence became. In fact 19 – 0 at half time didn’t really reflect the way the first 40 had gone. We could have and should have had at least one if not two tries in this first half.
The second half belonged to Belgrave. We came out stronger and more determined than ever. This was not going to be the predicted walkover most people thought. After spending long periods in their half we were rewarded with a well worked pushover try scored by Robert Kyle. Shortly after Dave Lamb scored another try John Hemsley converted both.
The Lions scored a dubious try (the ball not being grounded) and this again was converted.
The final outcome was a 16 – 26 defeat