A NEW photography exhibition entitled, ‘The Homes Of Football’ has found a temporary home at the National Football Museum. Photographer Stuart Ray Clarke has spent 25 years of his life taking over 100,000 images of football life centring on the vast number of stadiums and fans.
Clarke is known as the number one photographer of football culture and has travelled the world to capture some unique moments.
British Sea Power SoundtrackThe exhibition is currently occupying the top floor of the museum and will be on display until 31 December as part of the ‘Changing Exhibitions’ programme. On display are some of Clarkes most profound, amusing and touching photos along with a short video presentation explaining the series. Mercury-Prize nominated band British Sea Power have also been roped in to soundtrack the exhibition.
Clarke is known as the number one photographer of football culture and has travelled the world to capture some unique moments. He took his first ever photo at Vicarage Road, Watford in the 1970s as he smuggled a small Instamatic camera through the turnstiles.
The exhibition is co-curated by lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan Wayne Hemmingway MBE. “I have always loved visiting the grounds where the taste & the history of a local community is woven into the fabric of the local stadium, from the signage to the turnstiles to the pie selling booths. As money has poured in (and sadly, occasionally out) much of this history has been lost. However Stuart Roy Clarke shares my “eye” for this detail and has managed to capture, for posterity, the DNA of what Saturday afternoons have meant to so many of us.” he said.
Homes Of Football
The various wall-adorning photos show some of the funniest and warmest moments that the culture of football can create. Particularly look out for the Wolves fan dressed as a fairy-godmother trying to grant his team ‘three goals’ and the Geordie moustachioed look-a-likes. The other side of the spectrum shows the efforts and lengths some fans go to to support their local team, standing alone on the terraces in torrential storms just to see their team get a hammering.
Homes Of Football
As well as the ‘Homes Of Football’ exhibition the floor also features ‘Moving into space: Football and Art in West Africa’. This section features art pieces by eleven artists from West Africa to demonstrate the lure of European footballing stardom for African children who dream of becoming superstars.
Watch a trailer for Stuart Roy Clarkes Homes Of Football exhibition here.
