Pride of England
Celebrating the Legacy of English Football
22 January – 23 February 2025

 

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery is delighted to be able to present Pride of England, a community-focused exhibition celebrating the diversity, unity, and community legacy of the England football teams. Central to the exhibition are England’s Three Lions: sculptures co-created by artist Matt Small with young people in Ealing, which then accompanied the England Men’s Football Team to Germany for EURO 2024.

The Three Lions sculptures, created from recycled footballs with the help of local children at Pitzhanger and across Ealing, are a testament to the borough’s creativity and community spirit. Commissioned for the Football Association (FA), these sculptures travelled with the England team to Germany, each sculpture emblazoned with written and drawn messages of support, creating a “collective love letter” of national unity and pride to accompany the team during the tournament.

See Your Favourite Footballers
In addition to the sculptures, the exhibition will showcase portraits of football icons, including Ealing-born stars Bukayo Saka and Chloe Kelly, who have inspired millions. Some of these works were created around the time of EURO 2020, a pivotal moment when the England Men’s Football Team, led by Gareth Southgate, captured the nation’s admiration by embodying unity and resilience. Southgate’s leadership, recently recognised with a knighthood in the New Year Honours, and the team’s refusal to be divided in the face of racism, encapsulated the spirit of a modern, inclusive England. These portraits celebrate players like Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who stood against discrimination and became role models for a nation, bringing the country together in an unprecedented way. The exhibition will also feature photos and videos capturing the Three Lions in Germany with the football team, offering a special behind-the-scenes perspective on this international project.

Matt Small says: “The Three Lions are not just sculptures, they are symbols of teamwork and belonging. They represent strength in diversity and the pride we feel when we come together as a community. Bringing them back to Ealing, where they were created, feels like the perfect conclusion to this journey.”

About Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, built 1800–1804, is the historic country home of one of the most remarkable English architects, Sir John Soane. Pitzhanger’s mission is to promote Soane’s legacy, inspiring visitors with art, architecture, and design and nurturing creativity for all. The museum celebrates not only Soane’s lasting influence as a designer, but also combines his architecture with a programme of ambitious contemporary art exhibitions across the house and contemporary gallery. Pitzhanger runs an extensive learning outreach and events programme. Pitzhanger reopened in spring 2019 following a major £12-million conservation and restoration project to return the Manor to Soane’s original design, with support from NLHF, ACE, Ealing Council, and other generous donors.

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust
Mattock Lane, Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ
www.pitzhanger.org.uk
pitzhanger@pitzhanger.org.uk
Tel: 020 3985 8888
Charity Registration: 1152434 Company Registration: 08278049