St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

JY146

Jersey

CIC

Thia Markson

1968-69

Jersey, B.A.T.S. 1968-69. Worn by Tom Relles (forward, No.8). Red Stanford University American Football jersey, football collar. Black 'B.A.T.S' logo printed on left breast. Black No. "8" printed on reverse. Good condition, no fading, no tears.

This jersey is from the first season of the Bay Area Touring Side - or B.A.T.S - in the 1968/69 season. Before the 1968 season, the B.A.T.S formed as a separate club from the Olympic club, made up of many former Olympic club players, due to the O-Club's traditionalist rugby style and their conservative policies towards admission to the team, namely the club's white only rule. This jersey still carries the red colour theme from the Olympic club, but with a new badge - a bat - that shows the B.A.T.S identity as a distinctive, new club. Later, the B.A.T.S. would adopt a blue-and-white colour scheme to differentiate themselves from their predecessor club further.

1968-69, B.A.T.S, USA Rugby