I spotted this on the Facebook growing up in Anfield page.  It’s the exact spot where we shot our Grace Petrie Rise. Only in the 80’s when the local were about to embark on a pensioners outing. It was so different when I grew up in Anfield compared to now. There was so much life in those streets and now so many of them are boarded up. 

I’ve always thought that Liverpool FC were like vampires. Sucking the life out of the local area. Now my opinions are bared out by the Guardian.  They have always been sneaky. Everyone knew that LFC used to buy houses next to the ground off landlords who in turn kicked the unsuspecting tenants out on their arses. Nice stuff hey. As you know I grew up by the ground and the whole place was regularly dumped on. But its pretty awful and shameful the way they have bought up so many houses on Anfield Streets and left them to rot for a decade. People with no money are forced to accept derisory offers from a corporate organization. People brought up thier kids there and their family lines go back generations. As well as the social cost - history is lost. The stories of your granddad or great grandad all fade away as the area is laid to rest.  Even Brian Epstine’s family home enters a sea of decay thanks to LFC.

Everybody thinks supporting the football club is a good thing for the city. Like its a noble pursuit. Truth is people aren’t supporting a football club, they are supporting a multi-million pound business. It’s no different from Tescos coming and wanting to build on your house - no difference at all. 

Liverpool FC are so greedy they even tried to copyright the Liver bird. The city’s emblem which was granted by Royal Charter in the 1600’s. The local council of course  gave it to them on a plate. 

Are there any heros in this story? In my mind there’s Joan and Nora Mason who refused to leave their house on 26 Kemlyn Road. Destroying LFC’s plan of building a stadium for ten years in the 80’s. They left in 1990. Those two women stood up against the corporate giant like the saints from a Ealing Comedy. Bless them. Because its that standing up for what you believe is the thing that makes a difference. 

tashatime:

Huge thanks to @12foot6, Chris Shepherd @salforduni students and all involved in the Bar Shorts - http://barshorts.com/ last night @bandonthewall lovely evening with a lovely mixed crowd viewing some excellent funny/scary shorts inter dispersed with the student stings as links… Done us proud folks #illustration #animation #motion #motiondesign #barshorts #cat #cats

World Stareout Championships vs Arctic Monkeys

by Lee Crutchley

My favourite photo ever. Although I do say this about almost every photo.

This is a John Hinde postcard from Barry Island Butlins. I love Hinde postcards everything is hand tinted with super vivid colour  to make everything glam, but if you look carefully at the people’s expressions they don’t want to be there. There seems to be a gulf between the dad and the mum & daughter. Its super powerful for me. What do you think? Am I reading too much into this? 

You don’t see this postcard in the Martin Parr compliations that are currently out. It’s from Hindesight catalogue which Parr curated at Dublin Institute of Modern Art. Its very hard to get hold but worth the hassle of the chase. 

Real Glamour.

Liverpool in the 80’s by Rob Bremner from Liverpool Unfinished.

Hit the North!!

Bar Shorts returns with a night out in Manchester on the 30th April at Band On The Wall. It’s going to be the usual fun with me talking away with my friends at 12foot6. There’s also a bit of a surprise in the form of films by Salford University Illustration department. Hence this wondrous poster by the head of illustration Roger Shadbolt.It’s free so come along!!