South Shields FC announces plans to digitise club's history - here's how you can help

The work will see the club's history digitised, ensuring it can be enjoyed for generations to come by supporters and enthusiasts around the world.

The initiative is being led by SSFC historian Steve Cairns, who is appealing for volunteers to help him organise a vast collection of newspaper cuttings, memorabilia and match programmes dating back to 1888.

The club is seeking an initial £12,000 to make the project a reality and seeking some financial support in order to raise enough money to purchase a suitable scanner and an annual licence to ensure the historical items can be hosted online.

Steve Cairns said: “I strongly believe that it’s nothing short of a tragedy that the vast history, information and heritage of this great club and its predecessors are only available to a privileged few who, like myself, have unlimited access to the collection. As we now live in a digital world, it seems almost inexcusable that we allow this to continue.

“With this in mind, we now aim to digitise our entire collection, which will be no mean feat. The vision is to ensure that no matter where in the world our supporters live, they - like us – will be able to access the collection wherever and whenever they like. Over the coming weeks, we will be looking for your help in bringing this vision to reality.

“This club has a tremendous history and we have to make sure it doesn’t disappear.”

Once complete, the club will work with its charitable foundation to launch a number of projects designed to bring people together including memory lunches for former players and their families and tours and virtual tours of 1st Cloud Arena.

SSFC Foundation manager Steve Camm said: “The Foundation has exciting plans for intergenerational living history projects once the information is digitised.

“This will see players and supporters from days gone by connected with our supporters of the future, which are the children in our partner schools where the Foundation delivers activities."

Steve is seeking further artefacts from those who may have access to them, and the club is looking for a number of volunteers to help to scan and collate the collection which already exists.

Should the project be successful, the club’s history will be available in a central place for all those who wish to access it at any time.

South Shields FC chairman Geoff Thompson said: “‘The huge volume of material was originally collated by Bob Wray, our vice-president and former club historian, and I’d like to put on record my personal thanks to him for the many years of effort and dedication he committed to ensure this material was preserved.

“Now, with Steve Cairns’ input, we have identified a clear pathway to digitise and preserve the material for all time and for the benefit of all Sanddancers and Mariners fans.

“The project does require help and financial support but the outcome, if successful, will be truly amazing. I’m very hopeful people will get behind this project and support it.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the project can visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bringinghistorytolife