Urban Goals

A street view looking at the exterior wall of a corner house. The wall has a goal post painted on and the wall is crumbling in areas.
a white painted goal stands out on an old wall. Terraced houses behind it
A colourful image of a goal post painted white on a red brick wall looking into the back of a street of pastel coloured houses on a blue sky.
Goal Post in an open field with two tower blocks off in the distance.
Back street view of a row of houses, focused towards the back wall with a blue goal post outline painted on and a row of wheelie bins in front.
A wall in a grassy area with a goal post painted in white and the word 'NET' in big letters in the centre.
A goal is painted on a wall with a bin next to it.
A goalpost stands in a worn grassy area in front of a large tower block.
A goal post neatly painted onto a wall in a grassy area, a bench to the left and two apartment blocks in the background.
A white goal post in playing court with colourful graffiti behind it. Beyond the the court is an apartment block.
A grey brick wall with a white goal post outlined on with graffiti and over grown dead hedges beyond it.
A free standing goal post in a field of long grass with an industrial estate in the background.
A corner street view of a British pub, with a goal post outlined in black on the exterior wall.
A street view looking at the back of a row of houses focused on a goal post painted on the red brick wall.
A white goal post outline painted on the side of a red brick house, in shadow of another house.
A goal post painted onto a brown wall with safety barriers in front. Beyond the wall is a carpark and office block over looking the street.
A row of closed warehouses with a white outlined goal post on the building front.
A street view focused on a wall with a goal post painted on and covered in paint splatters and graffiti. A large wooden door rests against the wall and beyond is the view of houses.
A white goal post outline is painted on a black metal fence looking into a neglected backstreet, over grown with hedges backing onto houses.
A goal post painted onto a large wall in a carpark on a sunny day, beyond the wall is a tower block overlooking from an interesting angle.
A goal post is painted onto a grey wall with plants growing through the brick overlooked by a train bridge.
A small open field looking towards a street view of grey houses. In the foreground of the field is a goal post and large puddle.
A street view of a white house with a goal post painted on in blue and the name 'Paul' in large letters.
A brown house pictured on a street corner with a goal post painted on the wall of the house.
A street view of a wall between houses and a goal post painted on.
A goal post stands in an open field with a dry mud patch beneath it. Beyond this is a colourful children's play area and housing estate.
In the middle of a grassy area is a large rock, beyond that is a wall with a goal post painted on and a large wooden board leaning against it. Behind the wall is the back of a row of houses.
In a snowy park stands a goal post in front of a row of trees and houses
In an open field stands a goal post above a large puddle and mud patch. Off in the distance is the city of London skyline.
A goal post is painted in black on a redbrick building, above are shutters and extraction systems.
A close-up view of a redbrick house with a white goal post painted on the side.
A back street view of a row of houses focused on the wall with a faded goal post painted on.
A highly detailed goal is painted on a wall with an old streel light in front of it.
A faded goal painted on a wall in an alleyway with two contrasting types of bricks
A thick white painted goal on a wall in front of an old red brick building
A goal stands in front of a tower block being torn down with long grass around

Urban Goals

Few relics of childhood stir as an Urban Goal does. The crumbling brick. The ghost-like aura. The subtle nuances from goalmouth-to-goalmouth. They are icons of inner city life. Mementos of innumerable 'happy hours’, before boys and girls found alcopops.
Reminding us of our halcyon youth, they transport to a time when being the next Robbie Fowler or playing at Wembley was a distinct possibility. Within its stout frame lies football’s romance; breathing in a different realm to astronomical TV deals and Sepp Blatter. A place where the game is still beautiful.
The sight of an Urban Goal doesn’t just evoke dough-eyed sentimentalism. Their fading paint reflects the dislocation of football from the working class neighbourhoods you’ll find them in; the same neighbourhoods most professional clubs grew out of. They expose economic and cultural truths.
Look hard enough and you’ll see inequality, disadvantage and the eyes of the disenfranchised. Their existence in the twenty-first century paints a striking picture of social progress in Britain. Children are still wanting. Yet it’s the kids of these goals that will rise to the apex of the game. The Craig Bellamy’s and Wayne Rooney’s of the world. Look harder and you’ll see dreams.

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