Visual Arts

After a permanent exhibition space, a national tour and five books under his belt isn’t it time football photographer Stuart Clarke quits while he's ahead? After all is one football ground really that different from another?

“I suppose there is the risk of re-painting the same bridge or going around in circles but there are new clubs emerging, right on our doorstep we have Gretna, it’s unbelievable what’s happened to them in the past couple of years.”

“The Homes of Football was set up to be a permanent home for my pictures covering all aspects of football from the grounds, through the crowds and the loyal support to big occasions. . .  it’s such a myriad of things I could never get bored with it,” says Stuart.

It all began post Hillsbrough when Clarke wanted to do something to celebrate the game, and the changing nature of the subject keeps the collection fresh. 

Footballers legs

Worldwide appeal

Taking the concept abroad is a sensible step for an artist who enjoys such popularity in the UK. You only have to flick through press cuttings that range from the broadsheets to third division football programmes to see how well the product travels. 

As far as Clarke is concerned pending foreign adventures will attract more than football anoraks. What better way to compare geographically sparse cultures than via a theme the world over subscribes to?

“The world is full of changing cultures.  China, for example, is going to have a really strong football landscape in a few years time. Football is an international language, more than English in a way. It’s such a simple thing,  a football resembles the world,  a round sphere and its simple to play, it doesn’t cost anything.” 

That explains the interest but perhaps simplifies the product, after all can he watch a game without worrying about what shots he’ll take back to the gallery? Stuart can spend half of the game with his back to the football, but then this is perhaps an irrelevant question for someone who has married football to art and seamlessly joined two concepts that are culturally miles apart. The images capture the emotion, so it seems naïve to suggest Clarke views them independently.

Fifteen years worth of snap shots and the Homes of Football collection is clearly far from over. With a world tour in the pipeline, and foreign shores to conquer a new chapter in the life of Stuart Clarke is only just beginning.

You can see a number of Stuart Clarke's images via the link to the top right of this page.