IT'S 50 years since L S Lowry did his famous painting, but dads and kids are still 'Going to the Match'.

The artist's picture of supporters walking to Burnden Park, the former home of Bolton Wanderers, was bought by the Professional Footballers' Association for £1.92m in 1999 and will be at the heart of a special exhibition at The Lowry, on Salford Quays, opening next month.

It will be displayed alongside video diaries of two Manchester City and two Manchester United families.

Each family was asked to film getting ready to go to a game, the journey and the post-match inquest.

The City fans recorded the historic day when the Blues played their first home game at their new stadium against Portsmouth.

For the Reds, it was United's first home match in the Premiership this season against Bolton.

True Blue Ivan Babenko, 42, and his daughter Lindsay, 16, from Eccles, shot one-and-a-half hours of footage, which will be cut to about 15 minutes.

Ivan said: "We had a routine when we used to go to Maine Road. We would meet friends at the Queen's Arms in Patricroft, travel to the ground and park in the same spot and buy a half-time draw ticket.

"Now, we have a minibus - which is driven by a Manchester United fan, so you can imagine the banter! - to take us from the pub.

"The film also shows me attempting to play my blue saxophone. My wife Alison bought it me for my 40th birthday. I dreamt of being able to play Blue Moon on the pitch, but it's a rather difficult tune."

For United supporter Kris Hitchen, from Westhoughton, his day starts with film of his son Jake, aged nine, playing in goal for his side, Westhoughton Rangers.

Father and son then set off for their first game together at Old Trafford.

Kris, a plumber, said: "There's footage of Jake getting his face painted before the game and talking about his favourite players."

The film also shows them at Burnden Park - the subject of Lowry's painting. Only a tiny part of the ground is now standing; it's used by former Wanderers keeper David Felgate, who takes training sessions for up-and-coming keepers - including Jake.

Sally Entwistle, head of community and education at The Lowry, said: "In creating the `Going to the Match' project, we saw a wonderful opportunity to work with some local families who could form part of our new interpretation of the painting." Tweet