A few weeks ago Keith Mansfield wrote about the bungee cord that connects him to his club and how football keeps us hoping. A similar article in The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/31/football-depression-spurs-john-crace) last week by John Crace, reminded me that even when your team is in the Premiership, hope is greater than certainty.
The Clarets Creative project has been running in Burnley since June 2010. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, it is an oral history project, which by its very nature is about real stories rather than official history, fans rather than players, hope rather than certainty. In the case of Burnley FC, the fans have to be some of the most passionate, loyal and hopeful in the world (well every team would say that wouldn’t they) – but when it comes to thick and thin, surely Burnley fans can most ably demonstrate the ends to which they would go. Here is one story that has come out of the project, that illustrates what we mean. It is from the diary of Richard.
1983.
As we started to slip down the leagues the possibility of watching the team play at all 92 league grounds became a real possibility and many of us were determined to do it. As a result I found myself walking through 6 foot snow drifts in blizzard conditions one Friday in April, trying to get to Colne from Lothersdale . The reason was catching the Shoppers Special train from Manchester to Plymouth that evening. I managed to get to Colne soaked and half frozen. There I got a change of clothes at a mate’s house and we bussed it over to Manchester. Come 11pm there were 50 are so fans in the Brunswick pub off Piccadilly Gardens suitably refreshed and ready for the trip.
As we started to slip down the leagues the possibility of watching the team play at all 92 league grounds became a real possibility and many of us were determined to do it. As a result I found myself walking through 6 foot snow drifts in blizzard conditions one Friday in April, trying to get to Colne from Lothersdale . The reason was catching the Shoppers Special train from Manchester to Plymouth that evening. I managed to get to Colne soaked and half frozen. There I got a change of clothes at a mate’s house and we bussed it over to Manchester. Come 11pm there were 50 are so fans in the Brunswick pub off Piccadilly Gardens suitably refreshed and ready for the trip.
After a narrow defeat and the long journey back to Manchester the next day we weren’t quite as high spirited .We spent the endless night huddled in the waiting room at Victoria Station before getting the first train back to Colne on Sunday morning. I was still faced with a six mile walk home, which I managed before sleeping for 18 hours solid. All part of the experience of being a Burnley fan!
So what is oral history – and why is it so important to football?
Oral history is about capturing stories and memories of good times and bad: things that stick in the memory for reasons that are more to do with the fan rather than the club. As such it helps explain why a club is so important to local people and plays such a large part in the life of a town. If football is more important than life (to misquote a certain football manager), then this project might just help us to understand why.
The project has also been about creativity. Being creative makes us realise who we really are, and it is good for us! From the perspective of this project, this might be about decorating your car for the play-offs, hanging your lucky sock over your bed, collecting a set of badges or painting your face in a new design for every home game (and getting local people to come up with ideas to keep you in designs).
Of course Burnley does have its very proud official history – Burnley was one of the founder members of the Football League. This project acknowledges that, but then takes things a step further by recording a personal archive that links to this. It has valued the experiences of local people and has created something that they can be proud of.
The final exhibition showing what has been created during the project is being held in Towneley Hall Museum and Art Gallery, Burnley from 19 September to 17 December 2011. On Sunday afternoons we will be there with an Artist in Residence. But if you can’t get there, then the following is a sneak preview:
1. Objects of passion
Loaned objects from fans: everything from a Turf Moor brick to tea cosy and a lucky hat. These objects of passion mean a great deal to the fans who have loaned them, as told in the stories that go with the object.
Loaned objects from fans: everything from a Turf Moor brick to tea cosy and a lucky hat. These objects of passion mean a great deal to the fans who have loaned them, as told in the stories that go with the object.
2. Stories Stories have arrived in many different ways and express the depth of emotion and the fantastic experiences that many fans have had as they have followed Burnley over the years. They include the telling of traditions, superstitions and memories – both happy and sad.
Football acts as the thread that runs through the lives of many people in Burnley. It ties together important events in a fan's life and helps many to talk about family loyalties, social contacts, first jobs or the ups and downs of the team (which reflect the ups and downs of life).
Some fans wrote short pieces onto beer mats, others told their story into a microphone. On our website you will find longer pieces, plus some of the pieces from this exhibition. www.claretscreative.com
Football acts as the thread that runs through the lives of many people in Burnley. It ties together important events in a fan's life and helps many to talk about family loyalties, social contacts, first jobs or the ups and downs of the team (which reflect the ups and downs of life).
Some fans wrote short pieces onto beer mats, others told their story into a microphone. On our website you will find longer pieces, plus some of the pieces from this exhibition. www.claretscreative.com
3. Made in Burnley (and Pendle)
Part of the aim of this project was to hold workshops across the local area to help fans capture their memories either by story telling or in a visual way. The photographs, paintings and sculptures in this case reflect the stories of those who like to do it visually.
Part of the aim of this project was to hold workshops across the local area to help fans capture their memories either by story telling or in a visual way. The photographs, paintings and sculptures in this case reflect the stories of those who like to do it visually.
4. Folk ArtSome fans have expressed their love of Burnley FC in their own way. We especially love the
themed painting “Breaking All the Rules” (taken from above one fan’s fire place).
themed painting “Breaking All the Rules” (taken from above one fan’s fire place).
5. Fans
These photographs have been recorded as part of the project and reflect what it really means to be a Burnley fan.
These photographs have been recorded as part of the project and reflect what it really means to be a Burnley fan.
Please come along – we look forward to seeing you.
Janet Swan
Labels: Burnley FC, Clarets Creative, Towneley Hall
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