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An If Ya Know Your History
An If Ya Know Your History, you’d know Port Vale Football Club and the local pottery industry are closely linked. In the heyday of Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial heritage, there were over 2000 Bottleovens and kilns across the City. Today there are less than 50 still standing and they are all listed buildings. Managers, players, staff and fans have all worked in the potbanks and some still do…
Our latest project in reaching the target of creating 2000 Bottleoven/kiln shaped planters involves working alongside Port Vale. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are co-creating 50 vintage player planters with youth organisations, community groups and charities to celebrate the Valiant’s sporting history alongside Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery and industrial heritage. The planters will show the various kit designs throughout the decades and co-created with participants from local community programmes.
An exhibition of the heritage shaped artwork will help the local sporting community to celebrate North Staffordshire‘s proud pottery heritage. It will bring people together to reminisce and share related stories through art and recycling. The success of the activities and exhibition will show that the heritage in our City is still a priority and in people’s thoughts.
It will recall the people, the places and products surrounding the City’s pottery industry such as entrepreneurs Josiah Wedgwood, Josiah Spode, Thomas and Herbert Minton, factories such as the Ivy House & Brick House Works in Burslem (The Mother Town), Middleport Pottery, Gladstone Museum, the Portland Vase and Willow Pattern earthenware. As well as other factories that people’s family members worked in and contributed to the pottery industry.
Fans will learn about past players and managers associated with Port Vale and Stoke City football clubs who worked in the pottery industry as well as sport. Amongst others, ceramicist Lucien Boullemier played for both clubs in the 1890’s and early 1900’s and even produced his own range of pottery called ‘Boumier Ware.’ Recent Port Vale manager John Askey worked in the industry as a labourer before moving into football as a full time professional.
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@TheStoke2000’s An If Ya Know Your History Project
Sure it’s a grand old team to play for, Sure it’s a grand old team bedad, When you read its history It’s enough to make your heart grow sad, God bless them. We don’t care if we win, lose or draw, Darn the hair we care, Because we only know that there’s going to be a show And the Burslem Vale will be there… (Adapted from The Celtic Song by Glen Daly)
Listen to Glen Daly’s Version
Listen to the Terraces Version