This sponsored film by Turners of Newcastle shows the opening of the new rugby ground next to the Great North Road in 1955, Gosforth Rugby Football Club, and also covers a Rugby Union match between Gosforth Park and Cambridge University, Saturday l7 September 1955. The oepning view shows guests arriving at the new ground for the official opening. More people start to arrive especially by car as the car park nearby fills up. Many individuals and couples are captured on film as they make their...

This sponsored film by Turners of Newcastle shows the opening of the new rugby ground next to the Great North Road in 1955, Gosforth Rugby Football Club, and also covers a Rugby Union match between Gosforth Park and Cambridge University, Saturday l7 September 1955. The oepning view shows guests arriving at the new ground for the official opening. More people start to arrive especially by car as the car park nearby fills up. Many individuals and couples are captured on film as they make their way towards the clubhouse. The weather begins to turn showery. Some guests arrive holding umbrellas. Some of the guests enter the new clubhouse. On a veranda a group of women watch the guests arrive. Guests stand near a marquee chatting and drinking. Some of the guests enter the clubhouse. Guests leave the clubhouse and gather in front looking expectantly at the veranda, where men gather in front of a microphone. A photographer is present waiting for a suitable photo-opportunity. A speaker starts the proceedings, the guests standing in front listening intently. Guests applaud. As one speaker finishes, another begins. General views follow of the guests listening, Applause again and the final speaker takes to the microphone. This speaker may well be Joe Brunton, President of the Rugby Football Union and another ma who declare the club open. When he finishes, a flag is raised bearing the initials 'G.R.F.C'. The guests applaud. On the veranda, some gifts are handed to the speakers. Joe Brunton (?) is handed a silver tankard and another guest is given a picture. The speakers and officials leave the veranda and go back into the clubhouse. Some of the guests outside also head back into the building. Views follow of the clubhouse taken at an earlier period, the work completed. A solitary man heads for the doorway. Internal views follow, showing a large room set out with tables and chairs, and the club bar. On the rugby ground, two teams run onto the pitch, probably part of the opening day's events. The Gosforth colours at this time were green and white hoops, the opposition unidentified. The rugby match takes place, guests watching from the stands. At the end of the game the players leave the field and exit through the stands. The film cuts to a billboard which reads 'Gosforth v. Cambridge University, Sat. September 17th'.The players head onto the pitch and the game is played. At match end, players leave the pitch Intertitle: Photographed by Turners (Photography) Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne 1.