This is the second of two commissioned pieces. The client “a third generation Stoke City fan”, now semi retired, with ever lasting memories watching the legendary Gordon Banks playing for Stoke and a fondness of the old Wembley goals, stanchions and nets.

 

The brief was to recreate a moment from the 1966 World Cup Final between England v West Germany, featuring Gordon Banks figure in the goal with section of pitch. The model needed to be placed in a dinning area of a house and measures 400mm x 300mm. 

 

The model is totally hand made including the nets which are made from a fine sewing thread. The goal posts and crossbar are elliptical in shape like the original from the era. The goals also feature a bracing on the stanchions where they meet the crossbar and have a metal rod running through the bottom of the nets just like in 1966. The Gordon Banks figure is carved from a hardwood and also uses a little modelling clay. 

 

There was a lot of research time put into this commission and a estimated 25 hours would be needed to create this piece again. I was very keen to take this commission on because i’ve always had a fascination with goal posts, stanchions and nets, but never found a solution to the netting at this small scale. Even though its very labour intensive creating these nets by hand its worth it if theres a end result.

 

This model now sits at the clients home in a dinning area where it can be happy viewed and studied triggering past memories.