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Football
Football which belonged to Carl Minett of Aberfan. Carl was seven years old when he was killed in his classroom in Pantglas Junior School Aberfan on 21 October 1966. His ten-year-old sister, Marylyn, was also killed. Carl's family remember him spending hours playing with his football. After the disaster, the ball was safely kept by Carl's father (Cliff Minett) in their home named 'Carlyn', in memory of Carl and Marylyn.
At 9:13 that Friday morning thousands of tonnes of black coal waste from an unstable tip slid down the mountain. It instantly engulfed Pantglas Junior School and parts of the village killing a total of 116 children and 28 adults.
Brown leather football stitched together from 12 pieces of leather. The bladder made from orange plastic material can be seen through the 12cm long opening at the top. Fragments of white synthetic lacing remain, although it is not clear whether these are original. There are 7 lace holes along either side of the opening. Stitch holes, a little further out from the lace holes, suggest that something was attached to bridge across the opening - looking through the opening, it appears as though there is (at least some of) a thinner piece of leather inside the football. The surface of the football is rough and has the appearance of suede, although it could have lost its leather surface due to use.