A Treat For Hereford Football Fans

This month brings a real treat for Hereford football fans, as a multi-venue photography exhibition featuring among many, iconic photographs of the epic 1972 FA Cup run, including behind-the-scenes images, has gone on display.

The chance for fans to relive Hereford United's giant killing match against Newcastle United, up close and personal, comes courtesy of the culmination of the 3-year Heritage Lottery Funded Herefordshire Life Through a Lens project. The PHOTOS is an exhibition of pictures from the Derek Evans Studio photographic archive that takes place across multiple venues. Derek was a Hereford-based photojournalist who worked for the national press and TV in the heyday of Fleet Street and news photography. His iconic pictures from the 1940s to the 1970s are a valuable historic record of the life and times of the area. His images of the news, sport and daily life have been scanned and printed for display across seven venues around the city by award-winning media company Catcher Media, alongside archivists and volunteers.

Crowds Watching Hereford Play Sheffield Wednesday In 1955

From Ronnie Radford's rocket, Newcastle United goalkeeper Willie 'Iam' McFaul's despairing dive, football fans celebrating, to behind-the-scenes player pictures, complimented by hundreds of iconic news images, Catcher Media has chosen the most iconic images from Derek’s vast collection and they are on show now at the Courtyard Centre for the Arts, alongside new images of Ronnie, Colin Addison and fans.

Also on show, at Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, Carousel featuring an interview with 1972 Hereford United player-manager Colin Addison and player Ronnie Radford, who relive the big day by describing their thoughts and feelings in an interview on the Edgar Street pitch. Further interviews are also available online.

Among Derek Evans’ collection are images from the Queen's Coronation in 1953, elephants from Billy Smarts Circus walking through Hereford High Town in 1962, local youngsters bathing in the River Wye in 1959 and numerous nostalgic news and feature pictures taken in the county.

The images are currently on show (please check venue opening hours) at Hereford Museum and Art Gallery displaying original prints and film screenings (until March 21st); Hereford Cathedral (until March 5th) depicting Religious Life; Hereford College of Arts, College Road campus (until March 19th) Childhood photos, Herefordshireshire Archive and Records Centre (until April 17th) Press Cuttings and Prints; The Courtyard Centre for the Arts (from February 20th to March 22nd) Archive and Contemporary Images. Finally, Ledbury and Ross on Wye Libraries (from March 25th to April 6th); Kington and Leominster Libraries (from April 9th to 18th) .

Herefordshire Life Through a Lens is a Catcher Media project in partnership with Herefordshire Council's Libraries, Archive and Learning and Achievement Services.

The project is funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and by The Elmley Foundation, The Beaumont Trust, Wye Valley Brewery, Ledbury, Leominster and Ross on Wye Town Councils and crowd fund supporters.Full dates and details can be found on www.herefordshirelifethroughalens.org.uk alongside film interviews and archived images that are searchable by topic..