Archives an Inspiration to Young People - March 4th 2011
A very special exhibition has just opened at Concordia Leisure Centre in Cramlington following months of work by young people from South East Northumberland. The exhibition is the result of a project, Our Sporting Life, to engage and excite people about sport during the run up to the Olympics in 2012.
Youngsters aged 13-19 from Choyzes in Bedlington, Cramlington Youth Service and the Josephine Butler Campus in Ashington have worked with Juliet Hardy, a Creative Mentor from the museum and archives at Woodhorn, to produce an interesting display focussing on one of the great passions of the North East – football.
“The project has been brilliant for getting groups of young people engaged with the archive,” said Juliet, “and football is such a big part of their lives now that delving in to its history has been really interesting for them.”
The youngsters have spent time researching the archives at Woodhorn and Blyth Spartans, as well as interviewing to footballers and locals to discover what football means to them and how sport can inspire. They have uncovered old photographs, facts and figures, and even articles which have been used as the basis for the exhibition. Some have even been inspired them to create their own drawings too.
“The exhibition looks at many aspects of football, “explained Juliet. “It has some great photographs including pictures of Holywell ‘Bates Wanderers’ Team from 1893 and Seaton Delaval Council School Football Team from 1914-15. The role of women hasn’t been forgotten either with images of Barrington and Blaydon ladies teams from 1921. The young people have created a super panel too about the influence of Cissie Charlton – mother of brothers Jack and Sir Bobby – on an Ashington woman who is now a football coach.
“The project has been so important as it has given the young people a real sense of pride in their communities and a greater understanding of the importance of preserving local history.”
Paul Mainds, Chairman of Our Sporting Life project says, “Sport is a pulsating artery of life in our communities. It brings people together and shapes us as individuals. Sporting objects and memorabilia provide particularly powerful and unique records of our lives and national events. Our Sporting Life exhibitions enable people to showcase the objects that tell the stories of their sporting lives and the story of sport in their community. The best of these objects will be included in the major Our Sporting Life exhibition in London in 2012, sitting alongside national sporting icons and together represent the breadth of Britain’s contribution to the world of sport.”
The exhibition at Cramlington which has been supported by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, Woodhorn Time Travel Northumberland, NE-Generation Legacy Trust UK project and MLA will be available until 18 April, but people will have the opportunity to see it at other venues during 2011.
The Exhibition at Concordia Leisure Centre will be open until 18th April 2011.
Anyone interested in sharing their own experiences, memories and thoughts about sport is being encouraged to visit the Our Sporting Life website: www.oursportinglife.co.uk
Our Sporting Life is funded by Museums, Libraries, Archives Council (MLA) through its Innovation and Renaissance programmes, and created by the Sports Heritage Network, which comprises all the UK’s major sports museums and archives.