This beautiful park is named after Edward Burrow, an archaeologist, publisher, businessman, politician and philanthropist who lived in Cheltenham from 1889 until his death in 1935.

Burrow was a remarkable individual. He began his working life as a pharmacist’s assistant but became interested in etchings and engravings and developed an artistic talent which was noted widely, including by Queen Victoria. He had particular enthusiasm for representations of public buildings, and this led him into publishing and the creation of a successful business, Edward J. Burrow and Co. Ltd, in 1900.

The company gained national fame through the publication of a series of travel books, the ‘Burrow’s Guides’, which helped the newly mobile British population explore towns and counties as they took advantage of the growing train network. The Guides were profitable and helped the company expand significantly. Its headquarters were at 2-4 The Promenade – the building many will associate with the Midland Bank. Further growth led to premises in London and associations with many other companies and institutions.

Burrow became deeply involved in Cheltenham life. He was instrumental in the publication of historical and archaeological accounts of the town and its surrounding monuments. He was a local councillor and a significant voice in local debates and discussions. He was even the Chair of the town’s first ever Allotment Association. This desire to contribute to social improvements was reflected in the principles of the company itself, which was established on a profit-share basis and which took its responsibilities to the wellbeing of its employees with great seriousness.

By the end of the 1920s, the company was supporting a range of recreational and sporting activities for its workforce, and decided to follow the lead of other progressive organisations by developing facilities that would enable individuals and families to develop these pastimes further. There are many of examples of other former ‘company sports grounds’ in Cheltenham and Gloucester – including those established by Eagle Star Insurance (now Cheltenham Town’s training ground); Dowty’s; Mercantile and General Insurance and Smiths Industries.

Burrow’s Field was firmly part of this tradition and opened in 1930. It boasted pitches for cricket and rugby as well as a running track and space for quoits, which was very popular at this time. The pavilion had changing rooms for men and women as well as hot baths! An opening event drew hundreds of people, and soon the Field was being regularly used by the employees of the company and their families. Typically this was for ‘company sports days’, where the workers of Burrow and Co would come together with those from associated companies to compete in cricket, cross country running and other traditional games.

During the 1930s, the Burrow’s Sports Club began to compete locally in cricket, tennis and football, but probably had most success in athletics and cross country running. However, two events led to the demise of the park in this first guise. In 1935, Edward Burrow sadly passed away. Although the company continued to be successful, its more radical intent faded without the influence of its founder. Then, four years later, the Second World War was declared, and public recreation took a back seat in priorities of the locality.

In 1950, Cheltenham Town Council agreed to buy Burrow’s Field for £1,900. In the years that followed, the park became the home for regular gymkhanas and cattle shows, and for a famous ‘fur and leather show’ that was organised by the Leckhampton Horse and Agricultural Society.

Football pitches were marked at Burrow’s in the 1960s, but cricket and rugby were more regular sports at the park. American Football was popular for a period in the 1990s but by the turn of the century the condition of the park was gradually deteriorating. Like many public spaces, Burrow’s could only benefit from very occasional maintenance and cracks, bumps and lumps began to appear – making the pitches dangerous and the pavilion a damp, dark shadow of its former self.

As you will have already seen, there is more to ‘little Leckhampton’ than immediately meets the eye. As well as being a hotbed for grassroots sports, the area also has associations with some very famous individuals from the world of professional football.

Can many English players have made a global impact like Sir Geoff Hurst? The long-time Cheltenham resident was of course the scorer of a hattrick in the 1966 World Cup Final. You can see the match programme from this event in our Trophy Cabinet, but we’re also very pleased to say that the former West Ham centre forward has given his support to Leckhampton Rovers in various ways over the years. The pictures here show him at one of our Annual End of Season award events – the players look slightly surprised to be receiving their medals from one of the heroes of 1966.

Mike Summerbee made his name in the same era as Sir Geoff, featuring in the 1970 England World Cup Squad in Brazil after great success for Manchester City. Mike was a well known friend and business partner of George Best and appeared in the cult film Escape to Victory alongside Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Pele. A very impressive CV for the boy who attended Naunton Park junior and secondary schools (at that time Naunton Park educated children up to the age of 16). Mike’s father George had originally moved to Gloucestershire from the North to take up the position as Manager of Cheltenham Town, an episode of some sadness, and Mike’s son Nicky also became a professional footballer with Swindon Town, Manchester City and Sunderland. Their moving story is told in Colin Schindler’s Father’s Sons and Football.

Another local boy who made it to the ‘big time’ in the same period was goalkeeper Colin Boulton, who was spotted by scouts when playing for the Cheltenham Police Cadets. He signed for Derby County in 1964, and went on to play 344 times for them, winning the old First Division (the equivalent of the Premier League) in 1971-72 under Manager Brian Clough. He then won the First Division Championship again in 1974-75 under Manager Dave Mackay. Before retiring, he played in America for Tulsa Roughnecks and Los Angeles Aztecs. In 2009, Colin was voted the greatest goalkeeper in Derby County’s history – an incredible but fitting accolade.

Our association with local professional club Cheltenham Town has developed over the years. Former Cheltenham Chairman Paul Baker has been a great supporter (and resident) of Leckhampton, and more recently we’ve been able to celebrate the first Leckhampton Rovers player to move ‘through the ranks’ and appear for Cheltenham’s first team – Tom Chamberlain making his first team debut in the Football League in 2020.

Former parents and children at Leckhampton Primary School may be surprised to discover that popular Maths Teacher Mr Mackenzie was once a famous local footballer, appearing in midfield for Cheltenham in the late 1970s after spending time at Wycombe Wanderers and Arsenal in his younger years. He regularly appears in the ‘All-Time XIs’ of some older fans from Whaddon Road.

Finally, we continue to be grateful to the University of Gloucestershire for the use of their fabulous grounds at the Park Campus for our Academy and Wildcat sessions. We have enjoyed a long partnership with the University and helped them to restore sports to the campus and to build links with the local community. Just over the road from our Saturday ‘welcome desk’ is the former home of Ted Croker, who was the Secretary of The Football Association from 1973 until 1989, after a successful business career in Cheltenham. Ted was well known to people across the country, partly because the sport went through considerable change under his stewardship, and partly because he always introduced the draws for the different rounds of The FA Cup on the TV or radio. His autobiography was aptly named ‘The First Voice You Will Hear Is…’, and was published in 1987. Ted was the grandfather of England international Eric Dier. Eric was born in Cheltenham in 1994 but soon moved to Portugal where he began his footballing career with Sporting Lisbon.

Gladys Smith was 19 in 1921. Her most carefree teenage years had been overshadowed by the First World War, and like many young women her age she probably longed for a simple and happy life when the horrors of war could be forgotten. But she was also part of a generation who were agitating for change. They had seen the contribution that women had made to the war effort, and how this overturned so many assumptions about their capabilities and potential. Now it was time for this to be respected and acknowledged, and for women to be given a say.

The full franchise, enabling all women to vote on the same terms of men, didn’t come into place until 1928. The 1920s were therefore a time of continuing struggle and conflict, with women in all walks of life fighting to assert themselves and to change the way that women were viewed and treated. In a small but significant way, Gladys was part of this movement. She had found work at the Sunningend Works in Lansdown. The company manufactured parts for the aircraft industry, and you can still see its impressive art-deco offices opposite the Deya Brewery on the Lansdown Industrial Estate, behind the railway station. When women’s football was banned in 1921, Gladys and her workmates got together to defy the authorities, forming the Sunningend team and playing that first famous match against UCAL. Gladys was the captain of the team, and you can see her at the centre of the team group above.

We think that Gladys, along with many of her peers at Sunningend, went on to play for Cheltenham against Dick Kerr Ladies. We do know that her love of football may have been a factor in her romantic life, because by 1929 she had married Bernard Enoch, a Cheltenham builder. For many years Bernard had been a mainstay in the Leckhampton football team, and was the team’s captain when the couple married (you can see him, front right, in the photo below). Bernard’s cousin Alf had been captain of the Leckhampton Reserve side from 1910 onwards.

We can’t always dictate the interests of our children, and in this case neither Terry nor Valerie Enoch cared particularly for our great sport. However, Terry went on to have a lovely daughter, Sarah. Decades later, In 1999 Sarah married local footballer Enzo Scognamiglio, and our story has come full circle. Enzo had played for Leckhampton from 1979 to 1989, as well as many other local teams, and later began a career as a coach. He is now our Chairman.

In 1996, Dave Pitts and a small band of interested parents got together to reform Leckhampton, this time as a youth team. One day Enzo spotted the group training on the school playing field, and jumped over the fence to introduce himself. The rest is history, as they say. Enzo and Sarah’s children – Raff and Amelia – both played a big part in the development of the club, with Amelia serving as Club Secretary for many years.

The first team managers of this new iteration of the club were Rob Scott-Jones and Pete Fullerton. Kevin O’Brien, Sarah’s brother in law, was the first Chairman, ably assisted by Steve Brimsfield.

Here at Leckhampton Rovers, we are always building for the future – of our players and our club – but we have an eye on the past as well. Our story has featured many individuals, as well as Gladys and her amazing family, and we owe them all some thanks for building the foundations of our very special organisation.

Leckhampton Rovers would like to thank the following individuals for their help in producing this history:

Mags Hulbert, Eric Miller, Robin Brooks, Martin Horwood and Rebecca Sillence
This design has been created by Craig Paul Design Ltd.