Canvas captures momentous match

Artist Peter Watson produced the painting of the Flamingo Land Stadium to mark the EVO-STIK League North club's first game back in the town after a decade of playing in Bridlington following the demise of Scarborough FC and the closure of the McCain Stadium.

A snapshot of the scene on 15 July 2017 when the EVO-STIK League North club hosted a Sheffield United XI in front of a capacity crowd, the businesses featured on the advertising boards around the pitch were chosen at random from the companies who've supported the promotion-chasing Seadogs this season with pitchside hoardings.

Two hundred commemorative prints of ‘The Day Football Came Home’ canvas went on sale at £30 this week and Waston is delighted with the permanent reminder he's created of the landmark occasion.

Pictured handing over the original oil painting to Scarborough Athletic chairman Trevor Bull, Watson said: “It was a full house, a special day with a great atmosphere. I have tried to capture some goalmouth action which isn’t always easy. In this case, I managed to catch a Scarborough player having a shot as they attacked towards the swimming pool end in the first half.

“On the day, I had to stand on a box at the back of the crowd to be at a decent height to see all of the players above the spectators. I took a lot of photographs as well during the match to help put the painting together over the next six weeks.”

The artist, who was also commissioned to paint the McCain Stadium back in 2004 when the old Scarborough hosted Premier League giants Chelsea in the FA Cup, added: “I was at the old ground to paint for the FA Cup match against Chelsea. They were both great days for the town and I hope the prints help bring back happy memories for Scarborough supporters.”

Bull was thrilled with the painting and looking forward to hanging his own print at home. “Peter has delivered a brilliant painting that will provide a special reminder of a great day for our football club," said the Seadogs chairman.

"From the gestures and clapping of the spectators in the foreground to the sea of red around the stadium, he has captured the scene perfectly. One of the prints will definitely be finding a place on my wall at home,to remember a fantastic occasion that we should all be proud of.”

The Seadogs say fans looking to purchase the commemorative print from the club's shop and website can get it framed at Picturesque Framing in the town at extremely competitive prices. To see more of the artist's work, visit his 'Creation at SALT' exhibition of landscape painting which is running until April 28 in Lairgate, Beverley. For more information, visit www.peterwatsonpaintings.co.uk.

Images courtesy of @safc/Twitter

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