Lifted Over The Turnstiles

Good morning.

I’d like to ask for some advice please. I’m putting together a book – a photo-led nostalgia book – about how grounds used to look in the black and white era before the Taylor Report swept away standing terraces. Valley Parade with its place in this history will, of course, be featured.

The book (hopefully Vols 1, 2 and 3) will be a follow-up to my Lifted Over The Turnstiles 3-volume collection of books about Scottish football grounds: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=lifted+over+the+turnstiles&i=stripbooks&crid=1YPCRDC4130ZJ&sprefix=lifted+over+the+turnstiles%2Cstripbooks%2C57&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Or Google “Lifted Over The Turnstiles Book”.

I’m wondering if there are any club enthusiasts, historians, old press or private photographers, archives, or other sources you might point me towards. Ideally, I’d like pix of the ground’s terraces and stands empty, or on-pitch action with a good, illustrative view of terraces in the background. If possible.

Preferably before the 1985 fire.
I will, of course, pay respects to the fire, but many better, and more knowledgeable, writers than me have written about it. It wouldn’t be fitting or respectful for me to talk in detail.

I’m looking for old pix at high-resolution (screengrabs from websites don’t come up well in print). Preferably 50s, 60s, 70s — the way a supporter aged 60 to 80 will remember it.

I am willing, of course to pay for copyright and will give credits in the book for the provenance of the photos.

The aim is to celebrate the experiences of standing in a swaying, tight-packed, excited/angry/celebrating/commiserating/local-derby-fevered football crowd. It is a thing younger supporters will never have experienced. I still miss it.

I can be contacted at stevefinan1963@gmail.com

Many thanks.

 

Many thanks, Tony.