With England set to face Slovakia in their Euro 2024 knockout clash tomorrow (ko 5pm) – football fans of all ages have been urged to get match ready by checking out some iconic Three Lions memorabilia at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
The Lichfield Street venue is offering free entry to see these historic items as part of the popular exhibition ‘Football: Designing the Beautiful Game.’ The world-class touring exhibition features more than 200 local and international football items, including England shirts, match worn boots and even a slice of Wembley turf.
Also on display are objects from the game’s legendary players, such as Pele and Maradona, to modern day stars Lionel Messi and Lucy Bronze. The exhibition explores design stories behind the world’s number-one sport, from the evolution of kit and boot design to developments in stadium architecture.
Ian Fegan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of City Economy and Partnerships, said: “With England progressing to the knockout stages of the Euros, lots of people are enjoying a summer of football so we’re delighted to be hosting Football: Designing the Beautiful Game at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
“Football fans of all ages can get their football fix in-between Euro 2024 matches and catch a glimpse of legendary objects from the Three Lions’ camp from over the years. Tickets are completely free and are easy to book on the art gallery website.”
Five ‘must see’ items for England fans to enjoy at ‘Football: Designing the Beautiful Game’ are:
- Mary Earps’ 2023 FIFA World Cup Shirt
Mary Earps has had 50 senior caps for her country whilst accumulating 25 clean sheets. Regarded as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Earps represented her country at the 2023 World Cup and her popularity soon became noticeable by England fans. Over 17,000 fans voiced their frustration at not being able to buy the England goalkeeper’s shirt for the world cup ahead; in late 2023, after a long petition the English FA agreed to sell the shirt to spectators. The replica shirt as worn by Mary Earps, can be seen in the identity section of the gallery.
- England 1966 Shirt
England last experienced victory at a major tournament in 1966, when Sir Alf Ramsey’s side beat West Germany 4-2. George Eastham, who played for Arsenal at the time was named in Ramsey’s squad. Umbro had the privilege of designing the iconic World Cup shirts for that year, and despite Eastham not playing, the midfielder was still issued a shirt for the tournament. The shirt is alongside a range of jerseys worn by the England national team.
- Lucy Bronze’s match worn boots
Lucy Bronze plays as a right-back for Barcelona and is a four times Champions League winner whilst representing the England national team. Bronze’s accolades include UEFA Euros 2022 Champion and FIFA World Cup runners-up for England. The boots, which were worn by Lucy during a 2024 International Friendly, are designed for women to suit higher arches and a different centre of gravity. The boots sit in the equipment area of the exhibition.
- Stanley Matthews’ boots
On loan from the National Football Museum, these are boots that are thought to have been worn by Stanley Matthews. The lower cut boot that appeared in southern Europe and South America in the 1930s was an important design innovation. With different styles of play emerging in the game, including dribbling, elaborate footwork and players performing on harder pitches with less mud; the so called ‘Continental boot’ became popular in the 1950s. Matthews, who represented Stoke City and England collaborated with Co-operative Wholesale Society to design a pair of boots that offered flexible, lightweight soles and free ankle movement.
- England shirt badge
Football badges were first worn at international men’s level in 1872, a goalless game between England and Scotland saw England adopt the Three Lions crest for the first time. The symbol relates to the reign of King Richard I, who used it for his Royal Seal.
‘Football: Designing the Beautiful Game’ is a Design Museum Touring Exhibition that you can see during Wolverhampton Art Gallery opening hours: Monday to Saturday (10.30am – 4.30pm) and Sunday (11am – 4pm).
The exhibition will run until Sunday, September 1, 2024, and is free to enter, although pre-booking is advised. The exhibition is supported by the National Football Museum in collaboration with FIFA Museum.