George Hotel, Huddersfield facts for kids
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The George Hotel is a famous building in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. It's known as the place where rugby league football officially began in 1895. This historic hotel was built around 1851 and has an Italian-style look. It closed its doors in January 2013, and new owners are being sought.
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The Start of Rugby League
On August 29, 1895, something very important happened at the George Hotel. Twenty-one rugby clubs from Lancashire and Yorkshire met there. They voted to create their own rugby group, separate from the Rugby Football Union. This new group was first called the Northern Rugby Football Union. Later, in 1922, it became known as the Rugby Football League.
A team from Stockport also joined the new league. They were accepted by a telephone call made to the hotel! You can find many items and pictures remembering this special meeting throughout the hotel. There are also displays in the Heritage Centre.
British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA)
The British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) was also started at the George Hotel. This happened much later, in 1973. BARLA helps support and organize amateur rugby league teams across Britain.
Rugby League Heritage Centre
The Rugby League Heritage Centre used to be in the basement of the George Hotel. It was the only museum in the UK dedicated to the history of rugby league. The idea for the centre came from sports presenter Mike Stephenson.
The Heritage Centre opened on August 30, 2005. Famous former players like Billy Boston, Neil Fox, and Mick Sullivan were there for the opening. Inside the centre, visitors could see many cool things. These included rare jerseys, medals, caps, and old photographs. There were also videos playing on screens. The British Rugby League Hall of Fame is now located within this Heritage Centre.
National Rugby League Museum Plans
Good news for rugby league fans! On June 24, 2020, an exciting plan was announced. Rugby League Cares, a charity, teamed up with Kirklees Council. Their goal is to create a new National Rugby League Museum inside the George Hotel. This will be a great place to learn even more about the sport's history.
The George Hotel on Screen
The George Hotel has even been used for filming! In 2019, a film crew used the hotel for a new TV show called Cobra. This six-part series was shown on Sky One in 2020. For the show, the hotel was even made to look like it was on fire!
