Breaking Ground

BREAKING GROUND

Football and archaeology – a winning combination for artistic engagement

The short film above was made by Seb Ward as part of the Breaking Ground project, in September 2015.

Sunday 6th September to Saturday 12th September 2015 from 10am – 5pm.

Breaking Ground: Goalmouth excavation at former Bradford Park Avenue ground.

Breaking Ground: Goalmouth excavation at former Bradford Park Avenue ground.

In November 2013, Park Avenue football ground, a long-forgotten time capsule of Bradford’s social history, began to be unearthed when archaeologist Jason Wood and artist Neville Gabie conducted the first ever archaeological excavation of a football goalmouth and goalpost. This small intervention generated significant interest and was witnessed by people of all ages. Most had stories to tell; many also brought personal memorabilia and photographs to share. All displayed a passion for the former ground and a willingness to see it investigated and utilized to better effect.

Scrambling through the forest of trees that now occupy the terraces, where crowds in excess of 30,000 regularly stood to watch top flight football, people recounted games they had seen and relocated where they used to stand. Surprisingly, the concrete terraces, crash barriers, turnstiles and even a toilet block survive.

The wealth of history associated with Bradford Park Avenue, the landmark design of the stadium by Archibald Leitch, and its relative intactness after more than 40 years of neglect, provides a perfect opportunity to develop a high-quality art and heritage project.

September 2015

Digging out the dug-outs

Bradford Park Avenue fans & memorabilia

Bradford Park Avenue fans & memorabilia

In September 2015, Jason Wood and Neville Gabie return to the site for a further week’s work. This year will involve excavations of other parts of the former football ground, including the dug outs, demonstrations of geophysical surveying techniques, and examination of objects and other historical memorabilia. Alongside the archaeologists will be several artists working in response to the discoveries, history and context of the football club.

The team

As well as Jason Wood, the archaeological team includes Rob Nichols and sports historian Dave Pendleton. The geophysical survey is being undertaken by the University of Bradford, Department of Archaeological Sciences, who will demonstrate their work on Friday 11th September as part of the National Science Festival.

Breaking Ground: Fans clear the terraces

Breaking Ground: Fans clear the terraces

As well as Neville Gabie, who will make a film of the terraces re-occupied with fans, the artists include Louise O’Reilly, a botanical artist who will record how nature has filled the gaps left on the terraces; Alan Ward, who will be working with historic photographs and the results of the geophysical surveys; and Oliver Palmer and Giorgio Garippa, who are interested in the objects and memorabilia associated with the site.

Anyone interested is welcome to visit and anyone with a story, object, photograph, or memory should bring it along to share.

www.facebook.com/BPABreakGround

twitter – @BPA_BreakGround

instagram – BradfordPABreakingGround

Access to the site is off Canterbury Avenue, close to the entrance to the carpark for the Fitspace gym: SatNav BD5 0NL.

Arts Council England

The project is funded by Arts Council England and the National Football Museum, and supported by Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Final work from the archaeological excavations and by the artists will be exhibited at the National Football Museum in Manchester in early 2016, with plans to bring the exhibition Bradford later in that year.

Park Avenue was built in 1880 for rugby and cricket. Bradford Park Avenue AFC was formed in 1907 and was elected to the Football League in 1908. The ground was a landmark in stadium design including an unusual main stand – the first double-decker by the renowned architect Archibald Leitch – which also served the adjoining cricket ground. The football ground was abandoned to nature in 1973.

The crumbling, overgrown remains, which now more resemble an ancient ruin than a football ground, are a physical reminder of a forgotten social and sporting history, yet they represent an important facet of Bradford life and an opportunity to recapture and celebrate a unique aspect of British sporting heritage.