FOOTBALL GROUNDS OF ENGLAND EXHIBITION

Photographs from the Historic England Archive’s ‘Football Grounds of England’ Collection will be on display at Swindon Central Library’s Courtyard Gallery, from 29 June to 24 July.

Selected by football fans, the photographs connect the terraces, stands, floodlights and turnstiles with the emotional highs and lows of supporting a team. As well as enjoying vibrant images of football grounds past and present, this exhibition will stimulate fans to ponder what their own football ground story would be.

Gary Winter, Archive Engagement and Content Officer at Historic England, said: “As someone who’s followed Swindon Town FC across numerous football grounds since the late 1980s, it’s been genuinely rewarding to work with such an exceptional collection of photographs. Football fandom is, above all, a deeply social experience – each supporter holds their own memories of thrilling matches and unforgettable away days spent travelling the country with their team. This exhibition features contributions from fans of clubs across the country, who have generously shared their personal stories, adding a unique and heartfelt dimension to this exhibition.”

The Football Grounds of England Collection was created by architectural historian, writer and Aston Villa fan, Simon Inglis. Comprising over 2,200 photographs taken between 1980 and 2019, the collection records football grounds at a significant period of time.

Historic England 

We are Historic England the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all.

The link in the final paragraph takes you to the Historic England website. This link will take you to our online catalogue within the website and the individual items in the Football Grounds of England Collection that have so far been fully catalogued: Football Grounds of England Collection

Displayed is an image from the collection, and which features in the exhibition. It shows the view along Second Avenue towards Springfield Park, Wigan. Simon Inglis took this photo in December 1994. The credit line is: © Historic England Archive. FGE01/01/101/002