UK art competition 'going to the match'?

Answer 1

In 1953 the Football Association marked its 90th anniversary with a competition and exhibition called ‘Football and the Fine Arts’. With the support of the Arts Council the aim was to “convey something of the rich and exciting opportunities that football can offer the artist.”

From 1,710 entries from artists all over the UK, the judging panel, which included the then Directors of the Tate Gallery and the National Gallery, selected 150 works for inclusion in the final exhibition. They also awarded a number of prizes. The first prize was awarded to L S Lowry for ‘Going to the Match’.

Widely regarded as the best known football painting of the twentieth century, ‘Going to the Match’ shows Burnden Park, then home ground of Bolton Wanderers. It was a few miles from Lowry’s home in Pendlebury so he could walk there and watch Bolton, who won the cup final in 1953, play.

‘Going to the Match’ was purchased by the PFA in 1999 for an unprecedented £1.7 million and is now on loan to The Lowry where it is a firm favourite with the thousands of visitors who travel to see it.

Hope that's what you wanted.

Answer 2

unfortunately, no.