ALS has joined forces with the North East Photography Network, University of Sunderland and partners including Foundation of Light, Back on the Map and The Cultural Spring to celebrate the anniversary of the historic FA Cup Final victory at Wembley on May 5th, 1973.
One of the most significant events in the history of Sunderland, reaching far beyond the usual football boundaries and affecting the whole community in an outpouring of civic pride and pure joy.
Internationally renowned photographer (and lifelong football fan) Julian Germain has been commissioned to produce a book and an exhibition of visual material - photographs and memorabilia - that reflects upon the personal experiences and emotions of Sunderland supporters of the Bob Stokoe era - so that those experiences may be shared with younger fans and documented and archived for the benefit of future generations.
It is Sunderland fans’ photos, memorabilia, scrapbooks and memories that are at the heart of this project and supporters are invited to bring along such material to a series of events over the coming weeks and months. The project team will be waiting to meet you, to record your memories and to scan and copy your pictures and objects to create 1973, The People’s History.
As Julian says: “Maybe you have a photo of yourself, or your mates, or your mum or grandad, during that cup run; perhaps at Wembley for the final or maybe at Reading for the 4th Round replay, or on one of the 200 coaches that travelled to Hillsborough for the semi-final v Arsenal. Or it might have been a gathering at a neighbours house to watch the final on their new colour telly? There might be a child’s painting of the trophy or of a Sunderland shirt, or perhaps you made one of the hundreds of home-made flags, banners or rosettes that were made to celebrate the occasion?”
Our first ‘collection’ event is on Saturday 18 March from 12.30pm at the Beacon of Light. Please bring your materials along to be photographed and enjoy some of the items already in the collection.
For more info please get in touch with ALS at: info@a-love-supreme.com (please include your name and a phone number).
Project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
