Roots Hall: A commemorative book

[seany t]

Hi all,

alongside being a Shrimpers fan I moonlight as a graphic designer. And I'd been toying with the idea for a while of doing a book chronicling the last season at Roots Hall.

Rather than being match reports and stuff about players though, I wanted to focus on the more enduring memories of the place that'd be hard to conjure up in future years - things like the supporters bar, the views from the stands, the scoreboard, the convulted history of the half-time entertainment, the various "food" stalls, the immaculate pitch and ground staff, floodlights, etc - more documented through photography, with some support writing.

I was also considering a part where the book would divide into 3 sections, with each written from a different fans point of view from the south, east and west stands as to why their's is the best - alongside another section comparing the various locals (Spead, Nelson, etc) and pre-match rituals (eg. The Fish House, club shop, match day programmes)

There'd obviously be a bit in there about classic memories from throughout the years, but I'd like to confine that to a few fan accounts.

So first of all, do you reckon you lot would buy it / be interested in it? It wouldn't be huge, more just a coffee table keepsake I'm imagining

Second, do any of you have any idea who'd be a good person at the club to approach regarding it?

And third, I'll need some help. So when / if I get the go-ahead, I'll need volunteers. I won't ask for names / details now, but get thinking about it in case you have any burning desires to get involved

Thanks for reading,
Sean

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

I would ...

Try Sid Broomfield for a start; he built the thing ...

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

I'd buy one! Great idea Sean. You should ask the club to commission you to do it, then you have a ready outlet for sale in the club shop. Maybe ask the guys responsible for the SUFC history books how they started off?

I want a block of North Bank terracing too so if the club want to make some money, they should sell off the results of the bulldozers!

 

[Bielzibubz]

Cracking idea Sean. I'd have a copy.

As well as contacting the club, should it all go smoothly and into production, it may well be worthwhile contacting The Shrimpers Trust who may be interested in helping you market the book.

There are some great writers on this board that put together some amusing and extremely well written pieces from time to time. Slipperduke and MtS spring to mind.

 

[Bluesmanager]

I'd get it if I had the cash, and your best bet for someone at the club is McScriven (who's somewhere around here most of the time anyway), being the media manager at the club.

By the way, would that be the view of the giant metal girder right in front of you, the food that isn't fit for a pet, the scoreboard that last worked to a somewhere legible degree at Man U and such? :D

 

[seany t]

Exactly yeah. A very tongue in cheek, honest (and highly nostalgic I imagine) look back at things that've made us laugh over the years, and made Roots Hall what it is /was

 

[callan]

As im feeling very Nostalgic now, put me down for a copy.

 

[Mrs_Gower]

Great idea! I would definately buy a copy!!

 

[David Essex]

Memories of half time entertainment what a great idea.......dont forget they used to have cars parading round the pitch !

 

[Southampton Shrimper]

Sean, you sold it to me in your opening post. Cracking idea!

Obviously it's something that needs to be thought out and planned in advance, but there's still a little part of me that can't help thinking shouldn't we just wait until we know for definite that we will soon have a final season at the Hall?

:confused:

 

[mattytheshrimper]

i would deffiantly buy a copy without a doubt! think its a great idea that has to be done!

 

[fbm]

I'd buy it... but then again I think I've bought every SUFC related book ever written.

 

[seany t]

Sean, you sold it to me in your opening post. Cracking idea!

Obviously it's something that needs to be thought out and planned in advance, but there's still a little part of me that can't help thinking shouldn't we just wait until we know for definite that we will soon have a final season at the Hall?

:confused:

Very fair point. So if the training area is turned down, does that mean the whole new stadium build is off too?

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Very fair point. So if the training area is turned down, does that mean the whole new stadium build is off too?

That's a bit of a grey area.
Somebody said yesterday they reckon Uncle Ron has contingency for the Rochford decision being turned down & could put car parks somewhere on the SBC part of the site.

It's the Roots Hall decision I fear for, without maximising as much cash as possible from the RH development, that severely restricts what can be done at FF.........

 

[Napster]

Happy to volunteer some help

 

[Beefy]

I never got back to your email about this, Sean, but obviously I'll help out in any way that I can.

 

[loz]

after sean initially suggested it,this idea has been floating among a few of us for a couple of weeks- what we were talking about doings, after getting a few heads together to put together an initial plan, take it to you guys and the Shrimpers Trust and attempt to get some more organized support for it before going to the Club with a more concrete proposal. hopefully quite tongue-in-cheek throughout (i've got great visions for a photo-spread of Roots Hall's Worst Views), the idea is to have it as fan-led as possible. Specifically, I want Wiggy to write the foreword :)

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Specifically, I want Wiggy to write the foreword :)

Cancel my order, aaaaaaargh [screams like Homer Simpson] :eek:

 

[pickledseal]

I would love a copy.
Some poetic photograpghy of the hall would be awesome :)