Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
It’s The Big One!
Posted on June 18, 2021
Not long to go before the re-match between Scotland and England at Wembley. The first time since 1996! I remember it vividly, England won, with one of the most celebrated goals in recent memory.
The audacious goal by Paul Gascoigne, lit up the tournament and broke the hearts of Scotland fans.. the celebration was just as notable as the goal, Gascoigne throwing himself to the ground to remind everyone that only a few weeks before he (and the team) had been caught out celebrating in an establishment which delivered drinks from a great height, in huge quantities, to the open mouth of the person lying on a Dentist’s Chair… It was a moment England fans relished in spite of themselves! I confess that I was one!
I made this sketch recently and think I might have had a lemonade or two, as I had completely forgotten about drawing it! Not my best drawing but I love the Dentist’s Chair… many happy memories of a magic time for England and my own life too. It’s a long time ago but feels very close.
Good luck tonight, wishing everyone a wonderful time, safe and sound… and don’t be too silly with the pop!
Wonderful Wales!
Posted on June 17, 2021
Turkey v Wales last night was an extraordinary match – from the volatile and sometimes hostile atmosphere, a bizarre penalty miss for Gareth Bale, to some phenomenal defending and two goals, which included one of the most breathtaking passes a fan could see – Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey seem to be joined by some magical cord so that that the ball arcs across from the foot of one to the chest of the other – it was a joy to watch! The win was secured by a second super goal from Connor Roberts and left 30,000 Turkey fans stunned into silence. Wales have booked their place!
I am working on more drawings from the highlights which I will add later but here is the start of the lovely pass from Bale to Ramsey to begin with… what a match!
Flying start for England!
Posted on June 14, 2021
What a great start for England? Wonderful performance against a strong Croatia – with a super flying goal from Raheem Sterling, MBE – so delighted for him, as he justified his selection in style. Other highlights were a super shot on goal from Phil Foden, only five minutes in, which ricocheted off the post – and a super-determined, creative performance by Kalvin Phillips who set up the goal for Sterling beautifully – The final, arguably the most precious highlight though, was that there was a crowd to watch and cheer on – Joy unbridled! Here are my first impressions from the match – looking forward to Scotland this afternoon…
Euros 2020 – Sterling puts England 1-0 up!
Euros 2020 – Phillips – Beautiful flick
Euros 2020 – Phillips – You’re not having that!
Euros 2020 – Phillips – You’re not having that!
Euros 2020 – Singing the anthem – Croatia 
Euros 2020 – Singing the anthem – England
It’s coming home, it’s coming…
Posted on June 11, 2021
Well, as an England fan, I certainly hope it is! The tournament certainly is – along with 10 other host cities, matches will be played at Wembley – and there will be fans in the seats! Wonderful news after all this time. I can’t wait to follow the action with my pens and paints – it will be so exciting. Three home nations is fantastic – I also love to watch France, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium – it’s going to be a busy few weeks and my drawings and paintings will, no doubt, be frantic and emotional, like these from 2016… Magic!
Goal of the tournament? Payet, France, 
A sea of red – Bale for Wales 
One nil to France! 
Romania equalise! 
Celebrating goal No.1 – Giroud, France v Romania 
After the ball, England vs Russia
These are not from the Euro 2016, but some great players who will be there… so many new ones to try as well, I can’t wait…So excited!!!
Harry Kane set about taking the net apart! 
What a magnificent header! 
Chilwell superstrike
Leicester City: Daring to dream?
Posted on April 20, 2021
When it comes to being a fan of football, I am a bit of a romantic fool; either getting my hopes up for England to win a major tournament or for my own team, Leicester City to do well in the FA Cup.
Reaching a final, let alone winning, for both teams, seem like a lifetime ago. England reached the final (and won) the World Cup in 1966, while three years later in 1969, the Foxes reached the final of the FA Cup, which they lost by one goal to Manchester City. Heartbreak!
Goodness knows that both England and Leicester have broken mine and many more hearts a hundred times over in the years that followed…Ecstasy followed by Agony for one or other of them, and like all the other broken-hearted fans, I keep coming back for more, because there’s nothing quite as thrilling as your football team, local or national, doing well in a big tournament.
It’s the unique experience that all sport gives. It brings us together, excites us and enriches us. The lows are low but the highs are the best and both live long in our collective memories.
When the event and performance are very special, it engages everyone, including people who don’t regard themselves as sports fans, the excitement draws people together in a lovely way.
I watched the FA Cup semi final between Leicester and Southampton on Sunday afternoon with the customary trepidation. I was amazed and delighted by the result. But also, I was even more delighted to see an audience at Wembley, albeit small, the fans were back.
Real people, real voices and a real presence to witness this game. I made as many sketches of them as the action, it was so great to see.
So here we go again, Foxes fans daring to dream once more. It’s not the repeat of 1969 as we thought it might be, because Chelsea beat Manchester City in their semi final.
Chelsea are the polar opposite of Leicester City, having enjoyed great success in the FA Cup over the years, but maybe it’s the Foxes time? We know this team is full of surprises, its recent history is legendary. 2016 all over again?
I hope you enjoy my somewhat frazzled drawings and paintings! I wanted to post fairly quickly while the excitement is still fresh in mind.
Meanwhile, I can’t wait until 15th May.. will it be Agony or Ecstasy? I hope Gary Lineker has got his best pair of underpants ready if they win!
I am now in the process of making some more images based on the TV recordings and will post them individually with details for purchase. You can email for details or sign up to my newsletter for information 💙
World Cup 2018: Sweden v England- Harry Maguire – What a magnificent header!
Posted on July 8, 2018
Hello! I know that I should be posting pictures from the first day of this year’s Tour de France… But this was incredible and I just had to post this first – a very quick picture of Harry Maguire’s superb header in yesterday’s match against Sweden.
England now have a place in the semi-finals of a World Cup – A-ma-zing!!! Have a lovely Sunday 🙂
What a magnificent header!
Here’s to Harry!
World Cup 2018: England v Panama – Harry Kane sets about taking the net apart!
Posted on June 26, 2018
Hello! Following a football World Cup is a rollercoaster ride for all fans! I find that I have a mixture of anticipation, anxiety, excitement, gloom and despair as a tournament goes on. This could well be the fact that I support England and, as all England fans will tell you, it’s never an easy watch!
However, so far, there has been more than a glimmer of hope – plenty of things to lift an English heart – There have been goals and plenty of them, proper passing and a formation that works! Good leadership from the manager and a captain who is a real star, leading his team as a captain should, by great example.
Harry Kane set about taking the net apart!
This picture shows his penalty taken against Panama – in the first game these teams have ever played against each other.
The BBC commentator, Guy Mowbray, came out with a lovely description of the penalty, ‘That was emphatic! Harry Kane set about taking the net apart!’ Long may he continue to do that!!!
Here’s to Harry!
Contact
For all enquiries and contact, click on the heart…
