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Histories of Northamptonshire
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Saints Rugby Football Club Shirt

1949-59 Modern

Northampton Saints RugbyFootball Club shirt from the 1950s worn by John Beresford Deeks (Bez).

Rear of 1950s Saints Rugby shirt with appliqued number © NMAG
Rear of 1950s Saints Rugby shirt with appliqued number
A group photo of the Saint's Team 1964-5 Season © Saints RFC
Saints Team 1964-5 Season
Front of 1950s Saints Rugby shirt © NMAG
Front of 1950s Saints Rugby shirt

John Beresford Deeks, Saints man number 12, owned this match worn rugby jersey. Known to everyone as Bez, he was born on 4 November 1938 in Northampton. Alongside playing in the Northampton Saints first team and second team, the Wanderers, he was a significant member of Old Northamptonians Rugby Club. Bez participated in the Golden Oldies Festival as part of the Northampton Latter Day Saints team. His profile in the 1979 Canadian Tour programme reads ‘Has the ability to tackle anything above grass height with devastating effect.’

Northampton Saints Rugby Football Club, founded in 1880, is a successful premiership rugby union club in the UK, 2023/2024 champions of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The club was formed by Rev. Samuel Wathen Wigg to channel the energies of some of the county’s more troubled youngsters through rugby.

Northampton Saints are still based at Cinch Stadium, Franklin’s Gardens, hosting 14 men’s home games per season. In addition to the men’s rugby team, Northampton Saints run an academy, a wheelchair rugby team, and an elite women’s rugby team through a partnership with Loughborough Lightning. The Northampton Saints community initiative supported over 15,000 people in the 2023/24 season.

Number 89 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects exhibition 2025.

Northampton
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