Preston North End fans knit giant scarf for community project
A 200m (656ft) long scarf has been created by supporters of Preston North End football club in a project designed "to bring people together". The Preston North End muffler has been hand-knitted by members of the local Lancashire community. About 800 sections of the scarf were individually created before being stitched together by volunteers and unveiled at Deepdale Stadium.The design was based on a scarf created in 1964, which celebrated the Lilywhites' run to the FA Cup final of that year. The scarf will be handed to the National Football Museum in Manchester and given to local charities to be made in blankets.
In partnership with the National Football Museum, the football club distributed bundles of navy and white wool and knitting needles around the city for fans to knit their own contributions.Packs were distributed to local libraries and "knit and natter" groups. Michael Barrett, co-ordinator for Preston North End's Invincibles Heritage Project said "a wonderful group of volunteers" worked incredibly hard to sew it all together.Aimee Broughton, participation producer at the National Football Museum, said: "The whole project was all about bringing people together, getting people to try something new and getting everyone to feel their connection to the town and to the club's history."The club is such an integral part of Preston's history and the most important thing was seeing people feel part of this community."Of the original 1964 design, Ms Broughton said: "We don't see scarves like that any more. "A lot of them are made by machines and then put into shops so it was a really good way of us being creative and having a little nod to the past."The club is also appealing to supporters to knit full scarves to be donated to the Foxton charity, which runs shelters for rough sleepers and women and youth services across Preston.
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