Sculpture «Yard Captain»
In the northeast of Moscow, in the Yauza Park, there is an unusual art piece – a sculpture called «The Yard Keeper», depicting a young goalkeeper. This monument is dedicated to all the boys who kicked a ball around their yards, dreaming of great sporting achievements. The sculpture has a rich history. It first appeared in October 2010 near house № 185 on Mira Avenue. However, a year later, on September 24, 2011, it was moved to a new location – a green area between houses 161 and 163 – where it fit organically into the concept of Yauza Park. The main feature of the monument is the material it’s made from. Instead of traditional bronze, the artist used ordinary scrap metal: metal sheets, wire, bolts, and nuts. This technique gave the figure a textured and incredibly expressive quality. The image evokes a young footballer from the middle of the last century: a cap, goalkeeper gloves, and a shirt with characteristic lacing at the collar. «The Yard Keeper» has become more than just a park decoration; it is a symbol of football’s development in the North – Eastern Administrative District. It was in this very area that the district’s first mini-football court appeared, giving a start in sports to more than one generation of boys. The author of the work is Andrey Aseryants, a renowned sculptor, member of the USSR Union of Artists and the Moscow Union of Artists, and recipient of the Silver Medal of VDNKh. His work reminds Muscovites and guests of the capital of simple yard joys and that great victories often begin in a small yard.
Address: Moscow, Mira ave., 161
