As the Club celebrates its Centenary Year in 2021, club man Andrew Paterson is one of a number of people researching the club's roots. While the current incarnation of the club has operated since 1921 as Leith Academicals, later Leith Rugby, the history of rugby in Leith does go back further. Read on...

History

Kronstadt (Cronstadt) is an island west of St Petersburg and is the base for the Russian Baltic Fleet. One of its first governors was a Scottish Admiral.

Leith has had shipping connections with it since at least the mid 19th century as there is reference to the loss of a steam tug named Robert Scott sailing from Leith to Kronstatd where she was to be employed in towing. She went down on 18/9/1864 due the heavy weight of coal on board required to make the trip.

The Cronstadt and Leith Steamers Company based at the premises of D R Macgregor and Co, 54 Bernard Street (now flats) also ran steamers from Leith via Copenhagen every two weeks (passenger fare six shillings or 30p pence).

Rugby

The SRU was founded in 1873. A rugby team Cronstadt Leith played in the intermediate section in 1875/6 and 1876/7. They were admitted to SRU membership in 1879/80.

They played down Easter Road on a field that had a two foot drain cut across it! Could this be Quarryholes? Not sure but a possibility, as in 1880 there was only one farm which covered Easter Road, Quarryholes Farm. It covered Easter Road west side from Iona Street to Lorne Street and east side Eastern Cemetery to opposite Thorntree Street. The farmhouse was between Dalmeny Street and Lorne Street on the Coopers Rest side.

We've been unable to trace the date of the Club’s inception or demise, however the following fixtures are known to have taken place:-

14/1/1876 v Edin Uni 2nds at Leith Links
17/11/1876 v Edin Uni 3rds at Easter Road
1/11/1880 v Edin Acads 2nds at Raeburn Place (won 2 tries to nil)
15/11/1880 v Wanderers 2nds at Easter Road (won 2 tries to nil)
27/10/1882 v Blair Lodge School at Polmont (BLS won by 1goal + one try to 1 try)

PS....Cricket!

For cricket lovers, on 28/8/1880 Cronstadt Cricket played v Union at Queens Park. There is also reference to two other Leith Clubs on that date viz Leith Franklin and Fern.

Big thanks to Andrew for diving into this piece of our history. If anyone has suggestions for Andrew's future investigations or would like to join in, please get in touch at moand@sky.com.

Club culture vultures (Cookie & Aitchy): expect to be quizzed on this ahead of next year's tour!

#persevere