THE RL1908 BLOG

News, Reviews & Opinion - Sean Fagan - RL1908.com

A rugby league book with a difference has just been released by London League Publications entitled "Snuff out the Moon". (Has there ever been a more prolific publisher of rugby league books than this company?)

The rather intriguing title comes from an English newspaper reporter's description of one of rugby's first floodlight matches - where the light of the moon would be replaced by the newly invented floodlights.

Written by Tom Mather (father of Barrie-Jon Mather of Wigan, Castleford and Perth's Western Reds), "Snuff out the Moon" is his latest rugby league history book.

The use of floodlights in rugby league did not become common until the mid 1960s, when the BBC2 Floodlight Trophy was launched in England.

However, the origins of floodlight rugby date back to the 1870s, when electricity companies used the sport to try to gain publicity for their new product.

This book, based on extensive original research, examines the developments in electricity that brought about these matches and explains how they were organised.

While the book is sub-titled as "The development of floodlit rugby league", it does do it within the context of the technology's wider setting and history, with the author exploring the development of electricity, commercial issues, and the use of floodlights in night football matches in 19th century rugby and soccer across Britain.

One of the most interesting observations of the author is the connection between the electricity companies, media, and the rugby clubs in the 1870s and 1880s. Mather also examines the continuation of this theme, looking at the relationship between rugby league and big business, and the issue of television coverage of the game.

"Snuff out the Moon" also details the history of night time rugby league: looking at the development of the use of floodlights in modern rugby league from the 1930s, through the 1950s and the 1955 ITV Television Trophy to the use of floodlights today.

The book includes a foreword by Dave Hadfield and interviews with Neil Fox and Ray French.

Snuff out the Moon: The development of floodlit rugby league
Tom Mather
Published by London League Publications ISBN 9781903659335
Available in paperback: 122 pages
B&w photos and illustrations throughout
RRP £11.95