OUR F.A. is a local history project with international outlook, seeking to discover and preserve Football teams, through the ‘lost’ photographs of the past. The art of photography is now the simplest and most universal art of all. But we are looking back, before WW2 at unknown teams, often in unknown locations, no matter how tatty, torn and faded, with the aim of bringing them back to life.
This is an inclusive project that anyone can join. We already have thousands of images from old scrap books, postcards and broken albums around the UK, Ireland and beyond where we need your help or perhaps from someone you know, to identify dates, locations and maybe names. Where they played, kit colours and more – the stories behind the people in the teams can talk to us with a little collective effort..
Here are some examples:
Category WW1:
P.1. A British regiment with a team. Probably 1914-1918. Can anyone find clues in the image to begin to tell this story?
P.2. Gordon Highlanders but where and when, and can the mould spot be removed before this one fades out completely?
P.3 Nursing home cup winners 1914, presumably in England, but where – can anyone find the story – including who won!
Category: Church teams
P.4. Here are East Street Wesleyan juniors. But where? Perhaps 1890’s, does anyone recognise the location or people?
P.5. YMCA 1932 – does anyone recognise the large sign and wall perhaps?
P.6. St. James FC – but which one?
Category: Womens teams
P.7. Who is this cheerful lot and the date and place? Perhaps a munitions team or later?
P.8. Who are the Home Team?
P.9. A team from Bury, presumably Greater Manchester. Perhaps a railways team?
P.10.This is an amazing action shot from the USA, of children at a parochial school in the mid-west, playing ball in 1925.
Category: School teams
P.11 This is a rugby team of 15 with oval ball, and pre 1900 by the dress. Distinctive shirts and badge. Might the doorway give away the location?
P.12. HS XI from 1910 – does anyone have any ideas on this one?
P.13 Strand on the Green 1913 – presumably Chiswick and a local school? Might a local historian recognise the location and teachers even?
Category: Charity teams
P.14. There is a long history of fundraising associated with Football matches, for hospitals, war wounded and other causes, going back to Victorian times or perhaps before. Often with comic fancy dress. This one is from Scarborough in Yorkshire, but is torn and the photo bleached-out on the white fabric. Who could work digital magic to make this more viewable? Can date be found? You can see the Grand Charity Match poster on the wall, perhaps, it was mentioned in a local paper?
P.15. Who and where are the Flora Club in 1925?
P.16. Another crazy gang, but who and where? Spot the little girl peeking in the back row.
Category: Club teams
Of course there are thousands of clubs in the various leagues – many /most have come and gone. Has anyone listed them perhaps?
P.17. This is a classic example of a reminder. Falling to bits: stained, creased, split, torn and fading. It is Halton Football Club, presumably in Cheshire, around 1895 I guess. Who can tell us about this club? Who might help fund a photo-restoration?
OUR F.A.
This project is in early development and we welcome interest and contributions from individuals and organisations . Can you help with digital repair of photos? Perhaps you are an expert in identifying particular subjects or geographic areas? We would love you to help us discover the secrets of the pictures for all to appreciate. If you have old Football team images (before 1940) that you would like to see researched, please let us know too.
Contact us at: info@langtonfootballarchives.co.uk