This breakfast will hold particular significance, as the date coincides with the anniversary of the great match that confirmed Cheltenham as the birthplace of international rugby league.

The All Golds are named in honour of the New Zealand All Golds team that clinched rugby league’s first ever international series when they defeated Great Britain on 15 February, 1908 at the Athletic Ground in Cheltenham.

The former Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, Edward Gillespie and Professor of History at De Montfort University, Tony Collins will be guest speakers at the popular networking breakfast.

Amongst other sporting stories, they will be talking about the tales of courage, success and personal sacrifice at one of the world’s most remarkable sporting events – the Cheltenham Festival – and about the historical significance of the birthplace of international rugby league.

The free business breakfast, which is open to any local Gloucestershire business, runs from 7.30 until 10am at The Growth Hub which is located at the University’s Oxstalls campus in Longlevens, Gloucester (GL2 9HW).

The All Golds-Growth Hub breakfast will follow its usual ‘Work, Rest and Play’ format which will enable local businesses throughout the county to interact with like-minded professionals:

Work: 7.30 – 8.15am
Edward Gillespie: ‘The benefit of sporting and arts festivals to residents, businesses and visitors’

Edward was Managing Director at Cheltenham Racecourse for 32 years until 2012, a period which witnessed a massive growth in the popularity of racing attendances, particularly the Festival which expanded from 72,000 over three days to 220,000 over four days with an economic impact on the region of £50m.

This includes the employment of 1000 University of Gloucestershire students at the Racecourse for the week.

Other events at the Racecourse broadened with the opening of the Centaur, the largest conference and entertainment venue in the region.

Edward chaired Gloucestershire Tourism for many years and was a Board member of the LEP.

Since retiring, he works as consultant to top racehorse trainer Jonjo O’Neill and chairs the Cheltenham Music Festival, Pony Racing Authority and Summerfield Charitable Trust.

Rest: 8.15 – 8.45am

Make powerful connections with like-minded business leaders and meet inspirational founders of start-up enterprises and innovative companies being supported by the University of Gloucestershire, all over a bacon butty, tasty croissant, bowl of granola and lots of coffee and fruit juice.

Play: 8.45 – 9.45am
Professor Tony Collins: ‘How Cheltenham explains our sporting world’

Cheltenham has a rich history of sport dating back over two centuries.

From horse racing to football to croquet to rugby, the town has played an important role in shaping the modern sporting world we live in today.

Using examples from the town’s sporting heritage, Professor Tony Collins will show what Cheltenham tells us about the history of sport – and what it can tell us about its future too.

Tony Collins is professor of history at De Montfort University. He has won the Aberdare Prize for Sports History Book of the Year three times and was a lead contributor on the BBC Radio 4 series ‘Sport and the British’.

His latest book ‘The Oval World: a global history of rugby’ will be published in August 2015.

All Golds CEO Rob Webber, said: “We are delighted to have both Edward Gillespie and Professor Tony Collins attending our special anniversary breakfast that marks the occasion when Cheltenham was crowned the birthplace of our fine sport of rugby league.

“The University of Gloucestershire All Golds and Growth Hub business breakfasts are a hugely popular free event and this one is set to be even better. We look forward to seeing as many businesses there as possible.”

To book a place online visit The Growth Hub website: www.thegrowthhub.biz/event/all-golds-business-breakfast-3/