ORAL HISTORY AND CRICKETNeil Robinson – Research Officer – Marylebone Cricket Club

Taking the Field: origins of a project

• ‘Tale Enders’ – a collaboration between Glamorgan CCC and the University of Glamorgan• What is a ‘digital story’?• Despite the technology, it’s all about the story!• What Tale Enders taught us….• Proposal for a broader collaboration – across the UK and overseas –

between the University and MCC

The Plan

• ‘Taking the Field’ to be a full-time project, operated by a dedicated member of staff, with its own website / social media structure• Funding through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)• Application…• Application…• Application…….

The Project

• Working with clubs in the UK and Sri Lanka• On site visits to collect material & conduct interviews• Toolkits for clubs & individuals• A dedicated website – www.takingthefield.com• Using social media to create a community of interest• Publicity to get more clubs involved…

Hang on… what do we get out of all this?

• MCC Museum’s first online project• Coverage of grassroots cricket within the collections• Improved audio visual content• Attraction of new audiences

Lessons Learned

• For the clubs, it’s all about the cricket• Beware the dominating voice…• Why do it yourself if someone else can do it for you?

Taking the Field – Talking the Future• Project funded by KTP to run 2010 to 2012• What happens beyond this?• Other funding opportunities….

Taking the Field will return in…..

Beyond the BoundaryAn MCC Production in association with the University of Leicester, Department of Urban History