Carlisle United heritage archive to go digital

Simon Clarkson said the ball used to score the club's quickest ever hat-trick featured in the archive

Exhibition pieces celebrating the 120-year history of Carlisle United will be digitised to "better share them with fans".

The Backing the Blues heritage project won a national Sporting Heritage Award earlier this month for its exhibitions, workshops and activities.

The Carlisle United Heritage Group (CUHG) is working with the University of Cumbria to archive memorabilia such as photos and VHS tapes in a digital format.

The club's supporter liaison officer Simon Clarkson said it was an opportunity for fans to see "lots more stuff, rather than [it] just being filed away in the back of a cupboard in a box that nobody ever sees".

An exhibition appeared at Carlisle's Tullie museum last year, following National Lottery Heritage funding.

It featured audio recordings, fan memorabilia, behind-the-scenes footage and even the football used to score the quickest hat-trick in the club's history.

The university and its students will help digitise the collection along with CUHG volunteers.

Mr Clarkson said: "Some of the volunteers have got experience in photography and that type of area, but the rest are regular fans and we're looking forward to learning some new skills."

The exhibition documented key moments in the club's history

Mr Clarkson said the exhibition had brought joy to fans because of the way it evoked memories.

CUHG had also helped to provide material from the archive when former players had died.

"We really enjoy helping family members celebrate former past glories or providing information to them," Mr Clarkson said.