“Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” (UNESCO)
Many of you may recall that in 2016 Motherwell fans received questionnaires to collect their views on what a Club heritage project might look like. And now we’re looking to update that with a special event in April to collate thoughts and gauge interest in such a project.
The key findings from the 2016 questionnaire were:
- 100% of respondents thought the heritage of Motherwell Football Club is either very important (78%) or important (22%) to the local community
- 100% of respondents agreed that the heritage of Motherwell Football Club should be collected, preserved and made available to the community and future generations
- 85% of respondents would like to see a permanent exhibition of the Club’s heritage at Fir Park;
- 62% would like to see a Heritage Trail at Fir Park.
So much has changed since then.
But one thing remains the same. A desire to develop a vision for all things ‘Heritage’.
Over the past year or so, building on studies undertaken pre-pandemic, a volunteer Heritage Working Group has been tasked with assessing the feasibility of establishing a range of ‘heritage experiences’ throughout Fir Park Stadium.
Why does our heritage matter?
Brian McCafferty from the Working Group explains: “Most families have a heritage; a sense of our identity bound by stories from generations past and present – inherited possessions, photographs, and artefacts that can shape the hopes and aspirations for new arrivals.
“So too with a football club like ours. For many fans, our club is a part of our family, and a cornerstone of our local community, in which we take great pride.”
Many clubs at home and abroad have developed a variety of projects to curate, record, preserve and celebrate their history, making their heritage accessible to people far and wide.
“We have the opportunity to follow suit, preserve what we have – physical objects, documents, films, original records – and keep these safe for future generations,” added Brian.
Football heritage is not just limited to artefacts. It also includes knowledge and understanding passed from generation to generation, such as tales from memorable matches, players’ performances as well as identifying common themes that have prevailed throughout the Club’s long history.
Heritage working group
In response to the key findings of the questionnaires and extensive research, including from home and abroad, the group has now developed an outline concept plan of what might be possible.
Brian concludes: “Before setting anything in stone, we’ll seek input from Well Society members, fans and other stakeholders and their views will inform a more detailed concept plan for further consultation.”
Initially, an evening event is being proposed, hopefully in April where the group will present their design ideas and take-in suggestions. The bar will also be open. Watch out for further news on this.
