Adam Cattell
Adam researched the Stewarts & Lloyds archive at Corby Heritage Centre for WORK Records. Adam lives in Kettering and is particularly interested in social history and the history of his local area. He studied History at De Montfort University, Leicester, and has been a volunteer with Corby Heritage for over three years.
As part of my research for WORK Records, I have found it particularly interesting to learn about the sports teams established by the employees of the Stewarts & Lloyds Steelworks in Corby. Many of these sports teams still exist and continue to be an important part of life in Corby today. Even though the Steelworks of Stewarts & Lloyds no longer exists, the sports teams continue to use this name as a tribute to their origins.
The first sports teams were set up soon after the opening of the new Steelworks in the 1930s. The range of teams on offer quickly grew to cover a wide variety of different sports and eventually there was something available for everyone. For example, employees were able to take part in popular sports such as football, cricket, rugby, lawn bowling, tennis, badminton, boxing and hockey.
The works football team, Stewarts & Lloyds AFC, was formed in 1935 with players recruited solely from the Corby Works, playing in front of crowds of as many as 3,000 people at the Welfare Sports Ground. Since then, the team has spent its entire history in the regional divisions of lower league football in Northamptonshire and now play home fixtures on Occupation Road in Corby. One of their most successful seasons during the Stewarts & Lloyds Steelworks era was in 1973/74 when they won the Division One Championship as well as the local knockout cup competition. The team still exists today despite the formation of Corby Town FC and the subsequent departure of several of their key players.
The official works cricket team was formed in 1935 and initially competed in the Kettering & District League (Section B). The club continues to compete in the local leagues in the present day and has now been expanded to include teams for all ages.
A rugby union team was formed by Steelworks employees in 1936 after the first game was played in the previous year. From the 1950s to the 70s they won several trophies including during the 1951/52 season when they finished the season unbeaten. They also won the East Northants Cup and the Peterborough & District Cup in the 1970s.
The Stewarts & Lloyds Bowling Club was also founded in 1936 and soon became affiliated with the English and Northampton Bowling Associations. During this season there were several trophies available including the Club Champion, the President’s Prize, the Vice-President’s Prize and the Pairs Championship. At the start of 1937, club membership consisted of 154 men and 46 women, a popular club that went on to win the Munton Cup twice in 1957 and 1983.
There were also two types of tennis club available for Steelworkers to join. The Lawn Tennis Club was established in 1935, holding its first Club Championships in 1936 consisting of singles competitions for men and women as well as three doubles tournaments. The Corby Town Table Tennis Club was set up at the Welfare Club in Occupation Road in 1948 and won the Kettering & District Table Tennis League First Division in 1949. Despite the closure of the Steelworks in 1980, and a subsequent change of name, the club still runs several competitions each year.
In addition to tennis, a badminton club was formed in November 1936 and soon grew to over 40 members by January 1937. There were three courts available where members could practice twice a week and friendly matches were also played against other local clubs.
Boxing was also a popular sport among employees, and a club was set up in 1936, attracting over 60 members in its first year and taking part in tournaments in affiliation with the Amateur Boxing Club.
Finally, there was a mixed hockey club which played its first match against Symington’s Ladies’ Hockey Club in 1936. By the start of 1937 this club had around 25 to 30 players and regularly practiced on Saturday afternoons.
Many people came from Scotland to work at the Steelworks in the 1950s. This led to the development of a strong Scottish culture in the town and provided further opportunities for Stewarts & Lloyds employees to take part in competitive sport. The Highland Gathering was established in 1968, for example, including traditional Highland Games competitions.
In the 1970s the main events of the Highland Gathering included pole vault, hammer throw, shot put, height and distance weight throwing, caber tossing, head tennis, tug of war, five-a-side football and running races across various distances including a one-mile relay. These events were open to anyone, and split into different categories for men, women, youths and veterans. The Steelworkers also had the chance to compete in teams or individually in competitions for dancing, pipe band, drumming and even porridge-eating!
There were many opportunities for Stewarts & Lloyds employees to join sports teams and take part in other recreational activities. This played an important role in workers’ social lives and helped create the strong, family-centred community that grew around the Steelworks, while also having a major influence on the development of the town.
This was part of a wider trend among industrial employers in the 20th century, who supported the creation of societies and sports teams to foster a sense of togetherness and a family like atmosphere. Such initiatives were seen as a way to create a better working environment and reduce friction among employees.
Adam has also written about his WORK Records experience and discoveries. Read more here.
Rugby Club image courtesy Dr Peter Hill
Other images courtesy North Northamptonshire Council Corby Collection
