First City Football Sculpture
Planning permission for a unique piece of public artwork commemorating a significant event in Sheffield’s football history, has been approved by planners. The sculpture called ‘Heads or Tails’, which is to be cold cast in bronze, is being made by celebrated English sculptor David Westby.
Mr Westby is the brother of the late Martin Westby, one of the founders of Sheffield Home of Football (SHOF), the charity campaigning for a football heritage museum in the city and the group which is behind the artwork.
A planning application for the sculpture which is planned for the land at the junction with Surrey Street and Arundel Gate close to the Central library in Sheffield City Centre was approved by Sheffield City Council planners yesterday. (4th March 2025)
A petition with more than 200 signatures was also submitted in support of the application, which was submitted on 10th October 2024. “We are absolutely overjoyed at this news’, says Dr John P Wilson, one of the trustees of SHOF. “The sculpture which will be around two metres high and cast in bronze, depicts three coins in mid air and commemorates the 1873 match between Sheffield FC, the worlds oldest football club, and Shropshire Wanderers which resulted in a draw” added Dr Wilson.
“The score was then settled by the toss of a coin, and it is the only occasion in history where this occurred in an FA Cup match”, adds Dr Wilson. “Sheffield FC triumphed and we want this to be a great visual artwork and talking point in addition to being a significant contribution to our rich footballing culture in Sheffield”, he says.
“David Westby was chosen because of his close association with Sheffield, but he is also a painter and teacher who was also born in Sheffield. He studied at Falmouth School of Art and the Slade School of Art, London” says Dr. Wilson. Mark Elliott from House of Logos in Sheffield acted as project adviser and Richard Berry Architectural Designer from Sheffield provided expertise and , Stuart Frith Fabricator from Stuart Frith Fabrications have also worked on the project.
‘This will provide our city with dual and unique focal and talking points and will contribute to our economic and social goals of putting Sheffield on the global tourist map alongside our efforts to secure UNESCO status for our unique football history’, added Dr Wilson.
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