IMAGE: An urban goal painted on the side of a garage on a housing estate in Hull.
The term 'Urban Goal' may not, at first, register, but if you grew up in a working-class British neighbourhood in the 70's or 80s there was probably at least one on your stomping ground, if not more.
Usually they were a simple white painted or spray-painted outline of a goal, often found on end-terrace houses, garage doors, brick walls, or any flat surface.
They became a cultural symbol of street football, youth culture, and improvised play. Many kids learnt their first touches, shots and keepie-uppies or taps against these walls. The original grassroots football.
For many they invoke a feeling of nostalgia, but if you knew the neighbour who lived closest to them, they would probably held a very different opinion!
IMAGE: An urban goal painted on a metal storage container on a sports playing field in Cottingham, near Hull.
With more cars, tighter housing layouts, and the growth of organised football pitches, you'd be forgiven to think they are a thing of the past, however they still exist, maybe not as prevalent as back in the day, but they still inspire and can be found in social documentary photography, TV & films, music videos, album art and occasional contemporary art projects.
Michael Kirkham's excellent 'Urban Goals' photography project is the most notable (see link below) capturing images of urban goals throughout the UK.
Here at tenfoot we love to see an urban goal, so much so that they inspired one of our first 4 t-shirt designs, pop over to our collection section to have a skeg.
Team tenfoot
#fabricofthecity
Identity isn't given - it's created.
If you liked this post, check out Michael Kirkham's project for more images of urban goals.
Michael Kirkham - Urban Goals project