Market ward residents will be interested to read this City Council press release
A concept for the artwork to celebrate the role of the ‘Cambridge Rules’ in the formation of the Football Association (FA) Rules, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, has now been designed.
The City Council has commissioned the award winning artist Gordon Young to design an artwork to commemorate the significance that the ‘Cambridge Rules’ played in establishing the FA Rules, in 1863.
The ‘Cambridge Rules’ were first drawn up at a student meeting at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1848. The students sought to formulate a game that was acceptable to students who had played public school football with varying rules. The ‘Cambridge Rules’ are notable for the formal introduction of, amongst others, goal kicks, throw-ins, forward passes and for preventing running whilst holding the ball. These rules were very influential in the creation of the modern rules of Association Football, drawn up in London by the FA in 1863. Parker’s Piece has been chosen for the location for the artwork, as it was here that the Cambridge Rules of 1848 were first put into practice.
The artist Gordon Young said, ‘The design of the work is inspired from Parker’s Piece because the first written Rules were actually played here. The work is a celebration of this fact. The work comprises of a centre spot, the place from where the game kicked off and bold lettering, which states the original Cambridge Rules, in black & white, as laws should be. The letter font is itself based upon the original Rules. The figure at the centre spot is a referee, a deliberate generic interpretation representing all who have do the vital, essential, thankless task of following the rules. The artwork is located to have maximum impact and visitors are encouraged by the location to interact, pose, capture and remember a place with a history which is an important part of so many lives globally. The importance of Parker’s Piece as the starting point of everything in the world’s game is “a fact beyond argument”.’
Councillor Rod Cantrill Executive Councillor for Arts, Sport and Public Place said, ‘This project highlights Cambridge’s key role in the development of football into the modern game we know today. The artwork, inspired by the Cambridge Rules and where they were first played, underlines the importance of Parker’s Piece, not just to Cambridge, but to the world.’
Councillor Robert Dryden said, ‘I’m really pleased to see this project move forward to celebrate the importance of the first written rules of football. I hope people from all over the world will visit the artwork on Parker’s Piece to celebrate where it all began.’
Exhibition of the design will commence in late May and throughout June, providing the community the opportunity to comment on the design. Further details of planned activities during this period will follow shortly.
This public art commission is funded from city wide S106 developer contributions.