St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

OT066

A set of four printed rugby football 'mourning cards' fro 1903, 1904, 1906 and 1907. From Swansea games against cardiff and Newport and wales v England. Black print on wites card 9faded to brown). Dimensions: w14" x h10" (w35.4cm x h25.4cm).

Mourning Card

CIC

1903-1907

These 'mourning cards' were a popular souvenir at big matches and were printed beforehand, anticipating a win, then handed out to supporters of the opposing team after the result was known. They were sold at penny stalls outside grounds. The card printed for the international match with England efers to Swansea's scrum-half Dicky Owen, who captained Wales that day. wales won the match by 22 - 0. 1903 Swansea v Newport: swansea won the match by a goal and two tries. Swansea had won the November match and Newport won the December and February encounters, taking the Championship as well that Swansea had held for four seasons. Swansea v Cardiff 1904: Swansea won by a try to nil. Swansea v Cardiff 1906: Swansea won by 14 - 0. There is a story that following wales famous win over New Zealand in December 1905, a small boy approached a man standing on the steps of a Cardiff hotel. Not knowing it was Gallagher, the 'All Blacks' captain, he asked if he would like to buy a mourning card in memory of the death of poor New Zealand. Gallagher replied that he didn't need one as he had been at the funeral himself! (Cambrian 26th Jan. 1906 p4).