David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Lionel Messi celebrated in ‘heroic’ new exhibition at National Football Museum

The city’s National Football Museum has unveiled a new exhibition featuring artwork from Manchester-based artists honouring nine heroes from the world of football.

Including works based around the likes of David Backham, Eric Cantona, Justin Fashanu, Raheem Sterling, Mary Phillips and the world’s first transgender referee Lucy Clark, the MARKERS exhibition aims to explore how each of the sporting heroes have taken on calls to action and completed worthy missions both on and off the pitch.

The exhibition, which officially opens to the public on Friday (May 17), will explore themes of LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, women’s football and ethnic minorities through each of the nine pieces of work.

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The artworks, which also include depictions of Lionel Messi, Ji Sung Park and Manchester City supporter Pete The Badge, have been created by Akse P19, Mark Kennedy, Stanley Cow, Cbloxx, Billy Colours, Zem Clarke, Folie Art and Design and JJ Guest. Each artist was tasked with making something that spoke to their chosen figure's values.

The exhibition was unveiled today (May 14) by trans referee Lucy Clark, who features in the exhibition and recently became the first trans manager in the top five divisions of English women’s football after joining Sutton United. Lucy said she was ‘honoured’ to be part of the exhibition and hoped it would inspire others.

Lucy said: “It has been a privilege to unveil the MARKERS exhibition and see the space being explored by so many children, whilst they learn about mine and so many other interesting stories.

“Football means so much to me. Like so many, it is more than just a game to