Kyle King-Jagger, an artist who grew up in Shaw and now lives in Saddleworth, has been shortlisted for the prestigious international Football Art Prize. His work will be displayed at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield before touring to the National Football Museum in Manchester later this year.

The competition, which celebrates artwork inspired by football culture, received submissions from across the globe, with only around 75 works chosen for exhibition. Kyle's selected piece combines a passion for portraiture with a lifelong love of Manchester United, drawing on the nostalgia and atmosphere of early-2000s football culture.

Kyle, who has spent the past eight years living in Saddleworth after growing up in Shaw, said taking part in the annual Saddleworth Art Trail played a significant role in his development as an artist. "It has encouraged me to publicly exhibit my work and built my confidence," he explained.

His artwork uses multiple references to create an original composition, exploring the identity, social history and emotion surrounding football during that era. It evokes memories of iconic figures such as Roy Keane and the famous "prawn sandwich" commentary associated with the game at the time.

The Football Art Prize officially announced its 2026 shortlist in mid-May, with organisers describing football as "one of the richest subjects in contemporary art". The exhibition will open at Sheffield's Millennium Gallery on June 11, coinciding with the opening day of the FIFA World Cup, before touring to Manchester's National Football Museum from November 2026 until February 2027.

The shortlisted works were selected by a judging panel including Design Museum director Tim Marlow OBE, artist Harland Miller, Tottenham Hotspur Women and England footballer Jessica Naz, artist Emmely Elgersma, and curators from Sheffield Museums, Touchstones Rochdale and the National Football Museum.

Tim Marlow OBE, chair of the selection panel, said: "People often talk about artistry on the pitch… Well, there's plenty of it off the pitch too, inspired by the beautiful game. One of the joys of football matches is the collective, physical experience, so here's hoping many come and visit the exhibition of selected artworks."

The shortlisted works span painting, photography, drawing, printmaking, film and mixed media, with artists represented from countries including Bangladesh, Jamaica, Greenland, Colombia, India and the Netherlands. Awards totalling £7,000 will be presented during a prize-giving ceremony on June 10, including a first prize of £5,000 and a second prize of £2,000. For local readers, this recognition highlights the thriving artistic talent emerging from our community in Oldham and Saddleworth.