Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service is inviting local sports organisations and individuals to make a contribution to the permanent historical record of the county’s sporting life.
The service, which holds a wide range of archives relating to the history of the county, is seeking to record and preserve further documents and photographs from local clubs as part of its `For the Record: Olympic Legacy Project’.
The service will gather this information through two surveys.
The first is a survey for members to record a brief history of their club, whether new or old and regardless of its size or level. It consists of a basic list of questions, with a chance for other information to be added if desired, and perhaps accompanied by a photograph.
The second is a survey of any records held by sports clubs. These could be fixture lists, competition records, certificates, newsletters or photographs, or perhaps more formal records of meetings and membership.
County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture said: “This project provides us with a unique opportunity to be able to capture more of Staffordshire’s fascinating sporting history to gain an even better understanding of it and to make it available for others to enjoy and learn from."
A series of events are also planned in 2010 where club and sports representatives will have the opportunity to attend to find out more about what the Archive Service can offer to owners of records, and to view some of historical collections of older sporting records already collected and preserved.
Archive Service staff will be able to offer advice about the long-term preservation of these items, or to take in any formal club records for permanent safe-keeping and to make these available for people to use.
The surveys can be sent out via post or email. Anyone who would like to find out more should contact Liz Street at the Staffordshire Record Office via email liz.street@staffordshire.gov.uk or 01785 278371 or for the City of Stoke-on-Trent enquiries contact Chris Latimer on 01782 238420 or via email: chris.latimer@stoke.gov.uk