Monument to the football ball

But, although this alley has always been related to the sport, the bronze monument was not always its crown. Since the 1950s, on the spot where the ball was now located, there was a so-called football brehalovka, a gathering place for all football fans. Here you can always find out the latest news and gossip of the sports world, hold a sports discussion and discuss the results of the last matches.

In the 80's, which marked the holding of the Moscow Olympics, there was installed an architectural composition on which the emblem of games was depicted. Since the beginning of the 1990s, sports in our country have ceased to be the focus of attention. Kharkov Alley of sports glory has gradually began to crumble.

A new round of its history is closely connected with the revival of football traditions in Kharkiv and the development of the Kharkiv Metalist football club. In 2000, the alley was reconstructed. The administration of the Metalist football club together with the company Philip Morris Ukraine has allocated funds for reconstruction. And by the 10th anniversary of the Independence Day, as well as to the Day of the City of Kharkov, a bronze monument was opened in the form of a soccer ball on the pedestal.

The diameter of the ball is one and a half meters. The pedestal is made of black granite, which is equipped with wings for lighting. Around the ball, 11 lanterns are installed, which highlight the monument in the dark. The total weight of the monument is two tons. Near the bronze ball stands are installed, on which, like in the good old days, you can find all the sports news of Kharkov. Together with the revived football club Metalist Kharkov acquired another sport symbol of the city.

Of course, the erection of a monument in the form of a football in 2001 was not confined to the championship of Euro 2012. Then no one could even dream of such an event in the city. The bronze ball was more a symbol of the revival of sports life in the city, an increase in the interest of citizens to physical culture and a healthy way of life, the second birth of the soccer team Metallist, beloved by the citizens.

For Euro-2012, Kharkov prepared another monument, which is located on Gagarin Avenue, and became, so to speak, the second souvenir for European fans.

During the opening of the monument in the park named after Shevchenko, the legend of Ukrainian football Oleg Blokhin was signed on it. After that many townspeople and visitors of our city also leave their autographs on the ball.

We hope that the monument will remain on the Walk of Fame for more than one hundred years, and our descendants will be able to come here and, as before, be proud of the achievements of their favorite Metalist football club.