the makings of a montage
BY MARTIN DAVIES
I was only 3 years old when my Dad and brothers took me to Highbury for the first time in 1976. I don’t remember much, I was young after all, but it proved to be the start of a lifelong relationship with The Arsenal and the continuation of a family affair which had been going strong since the fifties.
Living in Yorkshire with my wife and three sons (all Gooners) I don’t get to many matches anymore, so when my season-ticket-holding Dad sporadically offers me a ticket I jump at the chance. One such offer was forthcoming in May 2006 and it just blew me away.
"Would you like to go and see the last game at Highbury, against Wigan?" asked my dad - "Is the Pope Catholic?" came my reply.
In the build up to the big day, while I floated along on cloud nine, I thought of doing something for my dad to say thanks for his incredible generosity. I am a graphic designer (and keen photographer) by profession so I thought I'd go about capturing the day through the lens and producing something using my artistic skills.
On the day itself, I met up with my older brother (another season ticket holder) in Kent and we made our way to the ground via our customary route, albeit much earlier. When we surfaced in Gillespie Road, the camera came out and I started filling the memory card with everything around me. We strolled the streets in and around the stadium for a full two hours before kick-off just soaking up the atmosphere.
Everywhere was humming with a heightened level of excitement, but at the same time the colours, smells and noise were exactly the same as my first ever game and I dare say the same as experienced by my father on his Highbury debut.
In the weeks that followed I trawled through the photographs I had taken and started to piece them together into a 'montage’ – a technique particularly favoured by British artist David Hockney – with the aim of creating a more dynamic and interesting homage to Highbury’s last match.
The Highbury Montage is based on our superb view from the North Bank Upper. All around the main shot I have included images taken from the nearby streets; stills from before and after the game, as well as match action.
My dad was thrilled when I finally finished it - a labour of love for a couple of months it has to be said. His first reaction, echoed by other Arsenal fans was that I should put it out there and try and sell it to other Gooners; after all it commemorates quite a special day, in a special stadium at a special club.
I really believe (if I do say so myself) that it captures not just the atmosphere of that final day, but of every matchday. After all, if you’re like my Dad, brothers and me, you’ll agree that watching The Arsenal is always special.
