The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre in Havant has been awarded a £57,100 National Lottery grant through the Heritage Lottery Fund to record and celebrate the history of Havant and Waterlooville Football Club.
The project will tell the story of the club since the merger of Havant FC and Waterlooville FC in 1998 and also track the development of football in the borough following the formation of Havant FC in 1883.
The stories of fans, staff and players will be collected by volunteers and used to create a book and short documentary film to be premièred at The Spring. A group of young people will also be mentored by film production company Millstream Productions to make a second film focusing on Havant and Waterlooville’s famous FA Cup run ten years ago when the club received national attention after twice taking the lead at Anfield, home of five times European Champions Liverpool.
The documentary films will feature as part of a temporary exhibition in The Spring’s mezzanine in early 2019. An interactive exhibit will also be created to enable the story of the football club to be recorded permanently in the venue’s museum.
Sophie Fullerlove, Director of The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, said: “The 20th anniversary of the formation of Havant and Waterlooville FC is a perfect opportunity to undertake research into the history of the club. The project will enable our museum to offer visitors a comprehensive record of the development of football in the borough and celebrate the role the football club plays in the wider community.”
Trevor Brock, Secretary of Havant and Waterlooville FC, said: “We are delighted The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre has been awarded this grant to enable the history of the club to be researched and celebrated. We are looking forward to participating in the project and hearing the stories of fans, staff and players.”
Hawks’ fans got an opportunity to contribute to the project by visiting a roadshow held in The Westleigh Pub at the team’s Westleigh Park stadium before the home game with St Albans City on Saturday 14th April.