Manchester Art Gallery kicks off the summer with the first public exhibition of work from the PFA art collection. 'The Beautiful Game' sees over 20 significant works on loan from the PFA in celebration of its centenary year.
From posters to paintings and cartoons to ceramics, the collections include a wealth of football-related material acquired by the PFA under the leadership of Chief Executive Gordon Taylor.
Striking images to feature in the exhibition range from depictions of world famous football stadiums to scenes of amateurs having a kick-about in the park. The works range from early 20th century pieces, such as a programme and souvenir from the England Cup Final in 1906, through to a series of contemporary posters specially commissioned for the PFA's centenary year.
Among the exhibition highlights is 'Going to the Match', one of Lowry’s best-loved works, portraying Bolton Wanderers fans on their way to a game. This prestigious oil painting is being shown alongside artworks by Glen Baxter, Willie Rodger and Peter Blake.
Art lover Gordon says: "I remember going to Belgrade in 1988 with the England team - when playing Yugoslavia - and being particularly impressed by the Football Museum at the Red Star Belgrade Stadium...espcially by the way it paid tribute to the Busy Babes as it was in Belgrade where they had their final game before the tragic Munich Air Disaster.
"I have been keen to encourage the collection of football memorabilia and artwork, not only for the PFA but throughout football. It has been particularly gratifying to see the development of the Manchester United Museum as one of the most popular museums in the country and the National Football Museum also in the North West at Preston, both of which give magnificent testimony to the history of football in our social fabric.
"In our home city of Manchester we have always had a good relationship with the National Museum of Labour History - now re-titled 'The People's History Museum', and have a dedicated section into the history of the game.
"For a long time we have been patrons of Manchester Art Gallery and as such are delighted to take this opportunity as a celebration of our centenary to display some of our finest artwork, not least of which being the Lowry picture 'Going to the Match'.
"This picture won LS Lowry his very first prize when the FA held a competition in 1953 to mark the coronation of the Queen, and Lowry won first prize for a grand sum of £50.00.
"We were delighted to purchase and keep this picture in England and have it on public display at the Lowry, even more so, when Rolf Harris selected it as a perfect example of a Lowry picture during his series on great artworks of the world.
"I very much hope that you will also appreciate the many examples within our collection, now being given the opportunity for the general public to see, which capture the feel of football throughout the ages both at a professional and amateur level in a classical and contemporary mode."
* The Beautiful Game: Highlights from the PFA's Art Collection is at Manchester Art Gallery from 26 July – 9 November 2008. Entry is free.
