I am doing a bit of research for a mate to try and find some information etc from the days when his Grandad played for Leigh between 1955-1960.

He said that he remembers playing a game at Loftus Road, which was filmed for television. Google suggests this was for the ITV Reddifusion Cup, something I had never heard of until today. There doesn't seem to be much information about it online, would anyone be able to shed some light on it?

October and November 1955, the television company Associated Rediffusion persuaded eight teams - Fev, Hudds, Hunslet, Leigh, Oldham, Wakey, Warrington and Wigan to take part in a knockout floodlit competition on various London soccer grounds where the necessary [floodlit] equipment had been installed, for a trophy which Wire won beating Leigh 43-18 at QPR. Like the earlier matches, this one couldn't be seen in the north because ITV, still in its infancy, didn't yet reach that far from the capital. RL was in short being used in exchange for £400 to each of the competing clubs as part of independent televisions early experiments with a rag bag of outside entertainments, along with all in wrestling.

Page 246 of Geoffrey Moorhouse's official history of rugby league.

Bit more info on rlcherryandwhite.co.ukrl.

Excellent work Bilko as ever.

Thanks for the information, very interesting. I am informed that a few months back a programme from the final sold for no less than £250!

With premier sports and BT sport now in the market and possibly able to stir up some genuine competition for broadcast rights, what are the odds this sort of thing could happen again? Im not at all sure either party, or even ITV, would be remotely interested, Im more thinking what our clubs and governing body would think? Would they be interested, or just dimiss it out of hand.......?

I remember the old floodlit competition on the BBC it was played during the week I think some good games on their when all the teams were part time and most had jobs has well has playing 2 times a week

Considering we couldn't even maintain the Northern Rail Cup I doubt it, sadly.

If BT/Sky/ITV are prepared to show Exeter v Bedford (Those hot beds of Union!!!) rugger at prime time it indicates where in the pecking order RL is overall and SL allows the broadcaster to walk all over it.

Maybe it's time the RFL offered a floodlit cup to ITV or CH4/5?? Then again that would be above them...

I'd give it 5 seconds until whichever players union spoke up and had a whinge about playing too many games. Seems ancillary cup competitions are a thing of the past at the top level.