Exploring the rich cultural heritage of grassroots football in Suffolk
Inspired by museum collections, Extra Time brings on our intergenerational teams to share their personal experiences of the beautiful game.
The first step was to take a team of artists into Suffolk Archives in Lowestoft and The Hold in Ipswich, to identify original documents such as press cuttings from the Lowestoft Journal and Waveney Advertiser, often dating back several decades.
The artists devised a programme of creative sessions, which they have been delivering in primary schools and care homes in Lowestoft, Halesworth and Leiston, creating unique artworks and vibrant interpretations of archive collections together with a broader understanding of Suffolk’s rich footballing heritage.
Three Football Story Boxes have also been created to capture individuals’ stories and images, and these Story Boxes will be available for other care homes and community groups across the country to share and enjoy.
The project has already delivered numerous one-off sessions in community settings, care homes and other schools in the east of the county and has several more planned, including a return match at First Light in June 2025.
Extra Time is made possible through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Lowestoft Rising and the Association for Suffolk Museums. It is a partner project with Suffolk Archives and runs from June 2023 to October 2025.