Boxing Champ Ricky Hatton Enters Barclays Competition

Photo ©Barclays

Editor’s note: the Ring Light Welterweight Champion of the World Ricky Hatton has joined the fray and entered into the Barclays football fan art competition; click on the “more” link below to see Ricky’s entry.

The response to Barclays and Arts Council England’s nationwide art competition for football fans has been fantastic. Since the launch of “Barclays: Finding Fan Gogh’ in November last year, we’ve had entries from all over the world – from Nigeria to Australia, Singapore to Sweden and right across the UK with young and old vying for the £10,000 first prize.

There are now only two days to go until entry deadline, Friday 30th March is the closing date, so don’t delay, send your entry today!

In a celebration of the on-pitch artistry and invention football fans see, plus their passion for playing the beautiful game themselves, fans are invited to show “what football means to them’.

From the grit of grassroots to the Barclays Premiership elite, supporters can choose the aspect of football that inspires them and convey this in art form – drawing, painting, photography or collage.

A panel representing the worlds of football and art will be responsible for the judging process and selecting a winner.

Barclays Finding Fan Gogh Judging Panel:
· Teddy Sheringham, West Ham Utd
· Sara Cox and Chappers, Radio 1 DJs and football fans
· Sir Christopher Frayling, Chairman Arts Council England
· Sir Peter Blake, Eminent artist
· Jim Hytner, Barclays Marketing Director

The winner will receive £10,000 and have their artwork displayed on a giant advertising board near their local Barclays Premiership team. Five runners up will receive £1,000 each.

Ricky Hatton’s Barclays competition entry ©Ricky Hatton/Barclays

Teddy Sheringham, said: “I’m obviously passionate about football, so it’s going to be interesting to see what fans come up with and how they interpret the game through art. I’m sure the standard of entries will be fantastic!”

Terry Venables submitted his own artwork to be used on posters to promote the competition, his picture shows what football means to him along with the caption: “Playing football as a kid on the streets in Dagenham is something that I’ll never forget. I loved it and played as often as I could. I’ve had a great career in football and many highs, but I’ve never forgotten my football roots.”

Any two dimensional media can be used and entries must be no bigger than A4 size (210mm x 296mm) and no smaller than a postcard (139mm x 107mm).

To enter, send your artwork to: Barclays Finding Fan Gogh, PO BOX 5634, London W1A 6AS or forthefans@barclays.com

Any questions, call the Barclays Finding Fan Gogh hotline on 0207 9086486

The closing date for entries is Friday 30th March 2007. See full terms and conditions for entry at www.barclayspremiership.com