Original Medium: Oil on canvas

Going to the Match, painted in 1953, is probably LS Lowry’s best-known and most popular picture. It has become an enduring representation of what match day means to fans. Typically, Lowry’s focus is not on the players or the game but on the crowds streaming towards the ground. It depicts Burnden Park, the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club at the time, which was within walking distance of Lowry’s home. Bolton reached the FA Cup final that year but lost to Blackpool 3-4. Also in 1953, the Football Association celebrated its 90th anniversary with a competition - Football and the Fine Arts. Going to the Match beat 1,700 entries to win first prize in the painting category.