On the Field: history of football star of new exhibition

The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia ‘scores a goal’ in culture with the presentation of its new exhibition On the Field: Football – History – Nicosia. This temporary exhibition, lasting from December 17 to April 30, reveals the history of football in Cyprus, having at its core the capital of the island. Yet, the title of the exhibition underscores its multifaceted interpretations, aptly pointed out by Antigone Heraclidou, one of the curators:

“This exhibition is about football fans,” she says. “Or not. It is about the people of Nicosia, as well as about every Cypriot. During kick-off time the ball is placed in the centre of the field. In this exhibition, football is in the centre of the capital, in the centre of sports activity and sometimes in the centre of political developments. Yet it is also in the centre for its fans, who watch with anxiety and pleasure. We hope that it is also in the centre of fair play and certainly away from football-related or other extremes.”

The coverage in the exhibition begins in the early years of British rule, when an unknown foreign sport was introduced to Cyprus, spreading and developing rapidly. Up to the early 1930s football gradually turned from a casual game played in rudimentary fields into the most popular sport on the island. The dynamic of football captivated everyone, and the game became the sport that simultaneously united and divided thousands of Cypriots. Football was adored by all social classes, but no one can deny that its great appeal was that it also reflected the political balances and controversies of the time. The exhibition goes up to the early 1960s. In other words, it touches on a period of political turmoil and intense rivalry that not only disrupted the conduct of football matches, but also caused great splits in the sport.

In the extensive timeline of the exhibition On the Field: Football – History – Nicosia, the curators have succeeded in gathering rich documentation and fascinating exhibits, loaned by government organisations, private collectors, football players, sports clubs, sport associations and the teams of Nicosia. Photographs of significant historical football events, memorabilia, footballs, shields, trophies and shoes magnify the chronological stations of the exhibition and the milestones of football in Cyprus.

“Specifically,” adds Antigone, “in this exciting exhibition we will learn about and see many unknown aspects of history unfolding. We will discover how football was played at the English School, we will gather information about the first gymnastics associations, such as the Olympia Gymnastic Association (GSO) and the Pancyprian Gymnastic Association (GSP), we will follow the founding of such clubs as the Enosis Neon Trust (Trust Youth Union) and we will especially focus on the creation of the first Nicosian football teams – Olympiakos, APOEL, Omonia, Achilleas, Orfeas and Çetinkaya – as well as other teams that played football in the city of Nicosia.

“It’s an invitation-challenge provoking us to view football under a different light, through an unconventional glance, through a penetrating look, able to extract Cypriot football from the restrictive frame of the football field, intending to emphasise its historical essence in order to offer an exceptional and diverse museum experience.”

Throughout the duration of the On the Field: Football – History – Nicosia exhibition, the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia will hold special guided tours, creative workshops for children, lectures and other events scheduled to begin soon.

On the Field: Football – History – Nicosia

Temporary exhibition on the history of football in Cyprus. December 17-April 30. Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, Nicosia. Opening night: 6.30pm. Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-4.30pm. www.leventismuseum.org.cy