Using the archives, local people have been exploring the links between the development of Ipswich as a town in a rural county during the 20th century and the development of the football club from its amateur beginnings in 1878. They are tracking its progression to professional status in 1936 and its more recent periods of national and international success.

The archive consists of around 5,000 programmes, trophies, historic documents, images, audio recordings, artefacts and fan memorabilia.

It’s been exciting to see so much of the heritage of the club and it’s encouraged me to find out more about individual items and the stories they tell.

Russell Pope, Ipswich Town supporter and project volunteer

Volunteers have spoken with elderly residents in sheltered accommodation throughout Suffolk and documented their stories in the archive. An exhibition of photographs and videos has been set up in the Sir Alf Ramsey suite at Ipswich Town’s stadium. 

Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter and project volunteer, Russell Pope, said: “It’s been exciting to see so much of the heritage of the club and it’s encouraged me to find out more about individual items and the stories they tell. Surprisingly, it’s the small things such as a match ticket or a player contract from the 1930s that help reveal something which for me as a supporter is new and fascinating.”