Sunderland ’73: The People’s Visual History, Julian Germain

In early 2023, NEPN and Northern Centre of Photography at the University of Sunderland were awarded funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery Players, to develop and deliver a project with Julian Germain, which brought together partners and participants from across the city to celebrate the city’s love of football and our shared heritage.

Sunderland ’73 celebrates under-represented aspects of heritage relating to Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup run, win and jubilation on Wearside afterwards. This occasion is one of the most significant events in the history of Sunderland, reaching beyond the usual football boundaries and affecting the whole community in an outpouring of civic pride and pure joy.

Through a series of events and wider call for participation, the team have rephotographed visual material – photographs, hand-made and personalised memorabilia – that reflects upon the personal experiences and emotions of Sunderland supporters of the Cup winning era, so that those experiences may be shared with younger fans and documented for the benefit of future generations.

During 2023, an evolving exhibition toured various community and public settings in Sunderland and surrounding areas, with a goal-shaped exhibition stand collaboratively produced with volunteers at The Workshop, Back on the Map in the east end of the city.

Participants were also invited to participate in workshops exploring the crafting of the time, such as: banner-making, delivered in partnership with Stitch and Bitch Sunderland; Trophy Making and Scrapbooking delivered with NE-based artists; and Photographic Restoration and Digitisation, supported by students at the Northern Centre of Photography.

A 168 page book, published in partnership with A Love Supreme is now available to buy HERE with over 300 free copies circulated to schools, care homes, community centres and libraries.

The team commissioned a Key Stage 2 Teacher Resource for schools and a Reminiscence Resource, produced by creative producer Elizabeth Kane, available to download at the bottom of this page.

Oral testimonies captured by Jay Sykes Media and new portraiture by Julian Germain have created digital storytelling works available here.

“Snapshot photographs as well as other creative endeavours such as home-made banners, scarves or scrapbooks seldom get published or exhibited so they very rarely get seen, but they offer a valuable and distinctive viewpoint from the more familiar images produced by the press, as well as fantastic images and objects that capture the emotions and experiences of the time. Perhaps you have a picture of yourself during that cup run, maybe at Notts County in the third round or at Hillsbrough in the semi-final against Arsenal, or maybe your family was gathered around the neighbours colour telly to watch the final? Or, it could just be you or your mum or grandad, proudly wearing a replica Sunderland shirt, or waving a banner or scarf at the victory parade?”  Julian Germain, 2023.