Carlisle United have unveiled a touching new feature in the Brunton Park memorial garden - a sculpture honouring former players who have passed away and marking some of the most important eras in the club’s history.
The installation, created on the previously unused area at the rear of the garden, features three bronze effect football boots mounted on rising metal arcs, with a fourth arc left empty to represent the future.
It was revealed on Saturday prior to the match against Eastleigh.
Each boot is modelled on a different era. One reflects the club’s early years in 1904. Another marks the 1974 season when Carlisle played in the First Division.
The third recreates the boot worn by Jimmy Glass when he scored his famous last minute goal in 1999.
All three were cast using cold set resin with bronze powder to give the appearance of traditional bronze sculpture.
The arcs are arranged across a raised turf plinth to suggest movement and progression. The empty arc is included to symbolise hope, ambition and the achievements still to come.
The piece was a joint project between the club, supporters groups, and the University of Cumbria, who’s students and alumni provided creative direction and produced the piece.
Watch the moment the sculpture was unveiled here.
Carlisle United fans donated to a Crowdfunder towards the costs of producing it - thank you to everyone that has donated so far. Click here if you would like to contribute
This is part or a wider joint initiative between the university and Carlisle United which also includes student ticket schemes, an award winning heritage project and sharing talents and resources.
Club Chaplain Dave Allen, who performed the unveiling, said: “The third boot is from 1999 from the famous Jimmy Glass winner in injury time. On that boot is a little drip that’s going upwards, defying gravity.
“What that’s saying is that we are resilient as a club, and as a club we’ve come through some really difficult moments. The final plinth is one of hope, of what is to come, we hope that is filled with amazing glory days. This is a place that you as part of the club can come and remember.
Fine Art graduates Paul Forsyth and Paul O’Donohoe worked on the project.
Paul Forsyth said: “We wanted to create something that was universal but also very specific to Carlisle that wasn’t a focus on a certain individual or team. Therefore we researched and have taken into account thoughts from fans and highlighted key times in the club's history.
“The final post without a boot on it purposely doesn't have anything on it because it stands for hope and we don’t know what happens in the future.
“This project has allowed us to take on everything that we learned as undergraduates, like techniques, researching materials. And, importantly, it has been a live project, with a real audience that we've been able to involve in the creation of this too. It has been great to create this tangible piece of work."
Simon Clarkson, Carlisle United Supporter Liaison Officer added: "The unveiling was the conclusion of some fantastic bit of collaboration with the University of Cumbria.
"It really cements what we can do with them long term, I think the vision of the artist has been superb. We asked them something that would be a respectful commemoration to former players and I think they've delivered that excellently. It's been very well received by fans.
"The event itself was very well attended and I would encourage all fans to come down, have a look and enjoy, and there's still lots of more to come in the memory garden. It's been a really exciting project.".
The sculpture has been securely set in foundations beneath the turf in line with safety and Flood Agency requirements.
It will now form part of the memorial garden for visitors in the months and years ahead.