Passion in pictures: Artist paints portraits of York City fans ahead of the club’s 100th anniversary
The faces of fans who have supported York City Football Club are being turned into unique portraits that will record a century of support for the Minstermen.
It’s a collaboration between Michael Miles at the Yfront Fanzine and Sue Clayton, an artist based in York. She has just completed a painting celebrating the staff and volunteers at the vaccination site at Askham Bar.
They both joined David Dunning on last night’s Late Show on YorkMixRadio which you can listen to again here.
Michael said: “So next year is that the 100th anniversary of York City and obviously the club are going to do their own celebrations but I wanted to do something for the supporters, because that’s a totally different sides of things from the actual club itself.
“I think we have been on a different journey.
“It’s about real passion for the club. It’s the getting up at six o’clock on Saturday morning, knowing you’re going to travel 300 miles to see an away game, often knowing you’re going to get beat, knowing everybody’s going to be taking the mickey out of you AND knowing you’re going to have to turn round travel 300 miles back!
“But of course you still do it,” he laughs.
Telling their stories
Artist Sue Clayton says: “I think the seed of the whole idea was when I was just sat with Michael chatting one day, actually in the Museum Gardens and we just sort of hit it off.
“What really pulled me in was Michael’s enthusiasm for York City and its fans.
“I’m not from a football-orientated family but Michael was telling me about what Bootham Crescent really means to him and I was totally on board.
“I was then thinking, hang on a minute, I’m obviously a portrait artist, I’m a visual storyteller, it’s a perfect fit. Let’s take these faces from over the years, you know, throughout the 100 years, and let’s tell their stories.
“People have already been sending their photos to us.”
Michael says that he feels that Bootham Crescent had a soul and a sense of place that is hard to describe. It will be sorely missed he says – and this is one way of remembering the people who helped make the unique atmosphere.
He accepts that the new stadium will be good for the city but it will take a while to get used to it.
This protrait project will keep the memory of those who supported or support the club fresh and alive for future generations. Bootham Crescent will never be forgotten.
The message to fans is if you’d like to be featured then drop Sue a line via Twitter or email. Don’t forget to tell your story behind the picture you send of family or friends too.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @SueClaytonArt