| Description | The archive contains over one thousand bundles relating to rugby matches from the mid 1950s to the early twenty first century. Bill McLaren's 'big sheets' are the most significant part of the archive. The 'big sheets' are large sheets of notes prepared by McLaren before each match to ensure that his commentaries were accurate and informative. The big sheets contain a wealth of information about players, replacements, match and club officials, the teams, ground and history of particular contests. The big sheets became more detailed over time. The earliest examples are written in pencil and list players surnames' along with some information about the match and teams. Later examples are larger, written in a number of different colours, and record an enormous amount of information about the teams, match, ground and officials. For instance, for each player information is noted about their age, height, weight, rugby record and number of caps awarded, as well as further details such as notes concerning their school or family background. Many also have McLaren's impressions of the match noted on the reverse, such as 'What a day!' (BML/1/3/13) or 'Disapp[oin]t[in]g' (BML/1/7/15).
A large number of the big sheets have sections cut from them, which McLaren reused by taping them to later big sheets. Big sheets with missing sections are noted in the scope and content of each catalogue description. Where players' forenames or surnames are not on the big sheets or their full names have been cut from the big sheets, names and initials have been supplied in brackets from the programme or information from the espnscrum.com website. 'Authority files' have been created from a range of sources, giving biographical information on players. These will be found attached to any catalogue entry that refers to that player.
As well as big sheets, the archive also contains programmes, notes, newspaper cuttings, letters, faxes, accounts of McLaren's expenses for attending matches and lots of further material relating to matches and tours. The notes are of particular interest. As well as general information concerning the match, players and team histories and performance, a number of the bundles contain manuscript draft reports on the game. These were probably either first drafts of McLaren's newspaper articles or notes for him to use when summarising the game on air.
The archive also contains 'sevens sheets', which are a little different to the big sheets as they provide information about each team that played in a tournament, rather than information for each match. They record the players and officials, the teams' match results and a range of further details that McLaren felt might be of interest. Some only record the players' names and a few pieces of information about the team and matches, others are much more detailed.
Overall the archive is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of rugby. |