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100 Years of Coconuts wins Heritage Lottery Fund support
100 Years of Coconuts, Cambridge Fans United’s (CFU) online museum of Cambridge United history, has received a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to enable it to open a ‘real life’ exhibit on the football club’s history at the Abbey Stadium.
Led by volunteers including supporters and local residents, the £50,000-plus project will tell the U’s story via an exhibit in the Cambridge United Supporters’ Club and pop-up displays at museums and community events. Visits to schools are also being planned, and students will be invited to the exhibit to learn how their local League football club has developed as part of their community.
The exhibit and pop-ups will consist of displays of documents, photography, artefacts and memorabilia, plus interpretative material and rolling oral history video displays.
The HLF funding will also support the establishment of a Cambridge United Former Players’ Association and a U’s Hall of Fame.
CFU, the Cambridge United supporters’ trust, launched 100yearsofcoconuts.co.uk in 2012 as United celebrated its centenary, having been founded as Abbey United in 1912. CFU Chairman David Matthew-Jones said: “The fantastic news of the HLF funding has inspired us all to take Coconuts project to another level.
“With the support of the HLF, the club and its Community Trust, we will be able to tell the extraordinary story of how Abbey/Cambridge United grew out of the Barnwell community and has continued to reflect and serve that community, while expanding its appeal and influence to a much wider region.
“Cambridge United is more than a football club. It’s also about people working together on and off the pitch to make lives better – and it’s always been that way.
“There is a fascinating story to be told about people working hard and selflessly to achieve their goals, on and off the pitch. We are so pleased to be able to tell that story.
“We are also excited about the creation of a former players’ association and hall of fame. We see all these initiatives as a way of bringing the Cambridge United extended family closer together.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “We are looking forward to hearing about the fascinating stories that emerge about the history of Cambridge United. It is a unique opportunity to capture and record the memories of players and supporters and to share their heritage with the wider community.”
The two-year HLF-funded project will begin in June. Meanwhile, supporters and others can gain a taste of things to come at the Abbey People Big Lunch on Sunday, June 7, 12 noon at Dudley Road recreation ground. Coconuts volunteers will man a stall and coconut shy.
Led by volunteers including supporters and local residents, the £50,000-plus project will tell the U’s story via an exhibit in the Cambridge United Supporters’ Club and pop-up displays at museums and community events. Visits to schools are also being planned, and students will be invited to the exhibit to learn how their local League football club has developed as part of their community.
The exhibit and pop-ups will consist of displays of documents, photography, artefacts and memorabilia, plus interpretative material and rolling oral history video displays.
The HLF funding will also support the establishment of a Cambridge United Former Players’ Association and a U’s Hall of Fame.
CFU, the Cambridge United supporters’ trust, launched 100yearsofcoconuts.co.uk in 2012 as United celebrated its centenary, having been founded as Abbey United in 1912. CFU Chairman David Matthew-Jones said: “The fantastic news of the HLF funding has inspired us all to take Coconuts project to another level.
“With the support of the HLF, the club and its Community Trust, we will be able to tell the extraordinary story of how Abbey/Cambridge United grew out of the Barnwell community and has continued to reflect and serve that community, while expanding its appeal and influence to a much wider region.
“Cambridge United is more than a football club. It’s also about people working together on and off the pitch to make lives better – and it’s always been that way.
“There is a fascinating story to be told about people working hard and selflessly to achieve their goals, on and off the pitch. We are so pleased to be able to tell that story.
“We are also excited about the creation of a former players’ association and hall of fame. We see all these initiatives as a way of bringing the Cambridge United extended family closer together.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “We are looking forward to hearing about the fascinating stories that emerge about the history of Cambridge United. It is a unique opportunity to capture and record the memories of players and supporters and to share their heritage with the wider community.”
The two-year HLF-funded project will begin in June. Meanwhile, supporters and others can gain a taste of things to come at the Abbey People Big Lunch on Sunday, June 7, 12 noon at Dudley Road recreation ground. Coconuts volunteers will man a stall and coconut shy.
About 100 Years of Coconuts
100 Years of Coconuts was launched, in the form of the online museum www.100yearsofcoconuts.co.uk, in 2012 to mark the centenary of Abbey United/Cambridge United. An initial HLF-funded project enabled the collection of oral history, a performance of Victorian-style football and the preservation of artefacts and memorabilia.
Since 2012, ‘Coconuts’ volunteers have expanded their sphere of activities to encompass a relaunch of the website with additional features, a lively social media presence, further oral history collection, an events programme and the creation of merchandise bearing the ‘Happy Harry’ logo.
Coconuts research has unearthed new information about the early years of Abbey United, the people who worked to establish it and the Barnwell/Abbey/Fen Ditton area in which it developed. Research is continuing and the results will be announced when it is complete.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund Using money raised through the National Lottery, since 1994 the Heritage Lottery Fund has not only revitalised hundreds of museums, parks, historic buildings, landscapes and wildlife sites, but has also given new meaning to heritage itself. People from every walk of life are now involved with the heritage that inspires them, making choices about what they want to keep and share from the past, for future generations. HLF has supported more than 33,000 projects, allocating over £5 billion across the UK, including £413 million to projects across the East of England region alone. Website: www.hlf.org.uk.
For further information, images and interviews, please contact
Dave Matthew-Jones, Chairman of Cambridge Fans United Trust Board:
M: 07703 274034
E: d.matthewjones@btinternet.com
Or see the recruitment page for the position here.