Established in 2012, the National Museum of Roller Derby (NMRD) is the UK’s first permanent collection of ephemera and memorabilia relating to the sport of Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby. In 2016, to celebrate our new permanent home in Glasgow Women’s Library’s new Bridgeton HQ, we bring you an ‘Object of the Month’ from our ever expanding collections.
We want your old team shirts, flyers, zines and other paraphernalia to illustrate the remarkable development of the sport in the UK. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for future announcements on how to donate items to the Museum.
*Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions access to the collection, and consequently digitisation of the collection, is limited. Therefore, Object of the Month will become Programme of the Month as these objects are already digitised online*
August 2021
This programme showcases a bout between Auld Reekie Roller Derby’s Twisted Thistles and Glasgow Roller Derby’s Irn Bruisers from approximately a decade ago. The artwork illustrates the grassroots spirit of roller derby as most artwork for bout programmes is done by someone within the local roller derby community. The seductive nature of the two women present in the programme cover also help to show a typically archaic sentiment that was once attached to the sport. Sexy and tough was an aesthetic trope adopted by the roller derby girls but has since waned as the sport has become more professional and representatively inclusive.
August has brought with it the return of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a little bit of normality to many. The annual Edinburgh Tattoo has yet again been cancelled for a 2nd year running – hopefully there will be no hassle at the castle next year!
