Renowned novelist Caryl Phillips spent his childhood in Leeds and remains a committed Leeds United fan. While known around the world for his powerful fiction, he’s also frequently written about being a football fan, including the complexities of being a Black fan of Leeds United in the 1960s and 70s.

As part of the Voice of the Fans exhibition, in conversation with Professor Andrew Warnes, Phillips discusses his experience as a fan, of writing about football and what Leeds United means to the city he grew up in.

Claire Warwick and John Boocock discuss the origins and history of the Unofficial Leeds United Email List and football supporters in Cyberspace. The ‘Leeds List’ claims to be the oldest surviving football supporters’ email list in the UK.

Join Mick Ward from Marching Out Together, local historian Andrea Hetherington, and former Leeds Other Paper journalist Dr Tony Harcup for a discussion about the fascinating history of independent media in Leeds since the 1970s - and particularly its links with football fan culture.

Inspired by the current British Library and Leeds Libraries exhibition, Voice of the Fans, this panel event features scholars whose research interests focus on issues in football fan culture. 

Participants include Professor Richard Haynes, author of The Football Imagination: The Rise of Football Fanzine Culture, together with current PhD students Cameron Huggett (British Library/Teesside University) and Aurélien Gerard (Sorbonne University).

Fan-led media occupies a unique space in the world of football, from a handful of photocopied fanzines sold outside football grounds in the ‘70s, to the global reach of today’s multimedia platforms. Join the British Library and Leeds Libraries to explore fan-driven publishing in the present moment, including its role in the wider media landscape, what it offers audiences, why it’s important and how it has endured despite changes in the globalised game.

Punks are taking over! Attitude Problem Zine editor Steve Hyland will introduce his collection of zines from the mid-80s to the present day and talk about how zines represent part of the counterculture within the DIY punk scene and beyond.

Rock out to a playlist of specially curated punk rock from across generations whilst you check out Zines from Ska to Oi! to Hardcore Punk to Riot Grrrl! Limited bar service available.

An evening to celebrate the life and achievements of Leeds-born Nell Smith.

Join us to enjoy a full video presentation of Anxious, Nell’s album release from April 2025 with live renditions of a selection of the songs by Penelope Isles.

Lack of Afro and Greg Blackman equals funk & soul gold. 2023’s ‘Loving Arms’ raised the roof and smashed setlists to smithereens with its soaring horns and rousing, all-in-together vocals, becoming a fixture on the BBC 6 Music playlist off the back of extensive championing from Craig Charles and described as “an absolute triumph” by Lauren Laverne.