Enter the Archive All-Stars
After last week’s thrilling match between Britten Court Angels and the Extra Time Roman Hill Football Club, local poet (and long-time goalie) Dean Parkin visited the teams, to learn about their thoughts on the game and identify a few tactics for the next fixture.
He also introduced them to the Archive All-Stars, a collection of characters taken from press cuttings and other documents held by Suffolk Archives.
These characters embody a richness and variety of local footballing stories, from the town’s factory teams like the Eastern Coach Works and the Bally Boys, to cups and trophies and the individuals who supported their teams through thick and thin.
It certainly gave both sides a lot to think about and, with Dean encouraging them from the side lines, everyone came up with nicknames for their own footballing persona; next week, the teams meet up again, and Dean will be on hand to referee some pitch perfect poetry.
Meanwhile, over in Ipswich, members of the Ipswich Town Heritage Society hosted a public event in which participants shared favourite stories and memorabilia associated with Ipswich Town Football Club.
Some even recorded their stories, which will be included in the digital story telling boxes being created as part of the Extra Time project. Watch this space for news of the boxes and some of the stories they contain.
This cartoon of the Lowestoft Town Football Club in 1946 features all the players and some very smart hats
Dean chatting with some of the Britten Court Angels
Fred played football for Roman Hill Boys in 1910 and went on to sign for Norwich
Jo, the Activity Officer at Britten Court, sharing one of the Archive All-Stars cards with a resident
Ethel the Bell, who never missed a game and enthusiastically rang her bell behind the opponents net every time Lowestoft scored
Oggy our face-saving defender
The Extra Time Football Club team, displaying their Player's Cards and poetic footballing prowess
Ipswich Town Heritage Society host an afternoon of footballing memories and displays
‘I have learnt quite a bit about the history of football and resident nicknames, it's been lots of fun.’
‘[The children will learn] good exercise, physical movement that will help them to feel better! They will keep learning about football as they go along from us and they can then go and tell their families at home.’
‘I’ve had some real laughs today and learnt many things I didn’t know.’
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The first Extra Time intergenerational session, in which the children from Roman Hill Primary school visit residents at Britten Court Care Home and together they play magnetic football and discuss their favourite teams, players – and half time snacks.
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