AN ARTIST inspired by Glossop North End’s trip to Wembley is hoping to capture the beautiful game on canvas.

Vaughan Parker, whose Remembrance Sunday scene of the cenotaph hangs in Glossop town hall, has offered to paint a picture to celebrate the Hillmen reaching the final of the FA Vase.

Despite their 2-0 defeat to Whitley Bay, the artist says he wants to commemorate the ‘magnificient’ day which saw more than 5,000 supporters travel to London to cheer on their team.

The footballing scene will be a first for Vaughan who says he’s only ever been to watch one match at the Surrey Street ground.

He said: "I’m not a big football fan, I’ve only ever been to one match in Glossop when I was a child and I only went because they advertised free meat and potato pies!  But I’ve been inspired by what they’ve done and this is my way of saying thanks."

Vaughan, of Tredcroft Street, Glossop, plans to paint a 6ftx7ft action shot of GNE playing a team of their choice, set around the goalmouth with the crowd behind them.

He also hopes to make prints of the picture which fans can buy as mementos, an idea which has already proved successful with his painting of Glossop Old Band.

"If I can take photos of all the players I can merge them together, a really dramatic scene with the crowd behind them," he added. "They’ve got so many fans that I’d like some of them to be included as well."

Bosses at the football club have welcomed the idea and are now in talks with the artist.

Manager Steve Young said: "We’re definitely interested, I think it would go down very well. We’ve been talking about having a souvenir shop at the ground and the prints would be perfect – something that everyone can keep and look back on."