Chorley’s Football Stories

The environment

Although the main focus of the Chorley Stories project was heritage and community engagement, the project also delivered several environmental benefits through its digital-first approach. By recording and sharing stories through podcasts, digital archives and online content, we reduced the need for large amounts of printed materials and created resources that can be accessed repeatedly without additional physical production.

The local economy

The Chorley Stories project helped support the local economy by increasing engagement with Chorley FC, local heritage and community activity within the town. The project encouraged people to visit Victory Park, attend community activities and reconnect with local organisations and spaces linked to the football club and wider community. By creating online content, podcasts and digital storytelling, the project also helped raise awareness of Chorley FC and the town itself to audiences beyond the local area. This has helped promote community pride and increase interest in local history and culture. The project created opportunities for volunteers and local people to develop skills in digital media, storytelling, interviewing and podcast production, helping improve confidence and experience that can support future volunteering, education and employment opportunities.

Volunteering, jobs & education

The Chorley Stories project created a range of volunteering, learning and informal education opportunities for local people. Volunteers supported the project by helping with interviews, collecting stories, researching local history and assisting with digital content and podcast production. This gave participants the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and become more involved in community activity. The project also helped develop digital and communication skills through storytelling, interviewing, audio recording and podcast creation. Participants gained hands-on experience using digital tools and media techniques, helping improve confidence in areas such as communication, listening, research and content creation.

Arts, culture & heritage

The Chorley Stories project has helped preserve and celebrate the heritage, culture and identity of both Chorley FC and the wider local community. Through recorded interviews, podcasts and the collection of historical memorabilia, the project has captured important memories and personal experiences that may otherwise have been lost over time. The project brought together supporters, former players, volunteers and local residents from different generations, all connected through their shared relationship with Chorley FC. These conversations highlighted the important role the football club has played within the town for many decades, not just as a sports club, but as a place that creates community, belonging and shared memories. So far, the project has recorded more than 30 oral history interviews and collected over 40 hours of community stories. These stories now form part of a growing digital archive that will help preserve Chorley’s football heritage for future generations. The Chorley Stories podcast series has allowed these stories to reach a much wider audience in a modern and engaging way. The project website and podcast content have generated more than 3,000 page views so far, with an estimated 500–750 people engaging with the project online. This has helped connect people with local heritage in a format that feels accessible and relevant. One of the most powerful outcomes of the project has been the sense of pride and connection it has created within the community. Many participants spoke about how much they valued the opportunity to share their memories and feel listened to. The project has helped people reconnect with their local history, celebrate the role of Chorley FC within the town and strengthen the connection between different generations of supporters and residents. Overall, Chorley Stories has helped protect an important part of Chorley’s cultural heritage while creating new ways for people to engage with local history through storytelling, digital media and community participation.

Activity, health and leisure

While promoting physical activity was not a direct aim of the project, Chorley Stories has still helped improve social wellbeing and community participation through positive engagement and shared cultural experiences.