This week on the Secret Library Leeds we hear from volunteer Pete Slater, with a brief description of a surprise visit to our Voice of the Fans exhibition. Voice of the Fans – a co-production between Leeds Libraries and the British Library – can be seen at our Central Library until August 10. We also have a full programme of events for you to enjoy.

Ever wondered what professional cricketers do on their day off? Why, they go to the Leeds Central Library Voice of the Fans exhibition of course! Honoured today to have shown Yorkshire Women stars Rebecca Duckworth, Rachel Slater and Beth Langston around the exhibition and explain a bit more about the displays.

The anti-racist messaging, LGBTQ+ and disabled rights and protest against oppressive government ideas of the 1980s were key topics. We also discussed the links to music, the creativity shown in the design of zines, the names and the many cartoons used to get a point across. The flags, badges and banners on display demonstrate another side of creativity and the protest culture that fanzines were and are so central to. 

They were particularly interested in the displays of fanzine names as you enter the exhibition so it was good to be able to explain the many puns, jokes, music crossovers and just a few of the stories behind the names. 

As a devoted Blackburn Rovers fan, Rebecca was particularly interested in the 4000 Holes fanzine on display so we took a quick look through and she immediately spotted a picture of her Uncle and  Rovers legend Derek Fazackerley!

Come along to the exhibition to find out more, it’s what all the best professional sportspeople are doing.