Filmmaker and illustrator Yoni Weisberg will see his latest illustration featured on the front cover of the matchday programme for Liverpool's Champions League clash with Villarreal at Anfield Stadium tonight.
The 38-year-old's design depicts fans walking to the historic ground, a departure from the usual images of current players that typically adorn Liverpool's programme covers. The work goes on sale to thousands of supporters at the stadium this evening.
A Dream Come True
Speaking of his delight, Yoni told the ECHO: "It was something I'd wanted to do and had hoped to do, but never thought I'd get the chance. It's a real pinch-myself, dream come true, look at this, kind of moment. It's a manifestation of a lot of things that I've been working towards, and has really been what I've been striving for. So, to see my own efforts and my own hard work get the attention of the right people and put myself in that position is a dream come true."
While it marks a career pinnacle for Yoni, it is not the first time his work has reached a large audience. He previously designed the titles for BBC's Match of the Day, a show that has been on air for around 60 years and changes its titles every four or five years.
A Lifelong Passion
Yoni said: "I think there's a few times in my career where I've felt like this is a big deal, were I've felt as though I'm doing something were I'm putting my name in and among the history books in some way or form. And I think it probably was designing the Match of the Day titles, me and the person I worked with on that, we were so unbelieving when we found out that we were actually doing it. Match of the Day's been on for 60 years or so, and they tend to change their titles every four or five years. So, that means that we're one of a dozen people who've been able to put their creative stamp at the front of what is probably the most iconic footballing show in the country."
Looking back at his career, Yoni said he was always drawing and acting as though he was Spider-Man in his own home movies, illustrating himself as a superhero and filming himself as one. He studied graphic design and film production at college and university, then worked in commercial productions and as a junior editor before directing commercials and music videos. He also created a portrait of the Liverpool squad to mark their league title win in 2020.
Honouring His Grandad
Yoni believes part of his creative ability came from his late grandad Alan Brown from Bootle, who was a keen photographer and gave him a passion for football. Yoni said: "What I think he gave me the most was the absolute passion for football. But also, he was a keen photographer, and I think I can't now, looking back, disregard how much of an impact that will have had on me. Because he really was a person that, I think had he grown up in a different era, probably would have had quite a burgeoning creative fire that he probably would have put more into practice as part of his vocation, but it was more of a passion for him. But definitely those things and those parts of him had a huge influence on me."
Yoni said designing tonight's programme carries extra significance for him and his family, as his grandad Alan and great-granddad Tommy had collected matchday programmes from their own time going back decades. He said: "I know that my granddad Alan and great-granddad Tommy had tons of matchday programmes from their own time, going back decades, when they went to matches. It really means a lot to me, knowing that I've been able to be part of that. I think for my grandad to know that a member of his family and his grandson has played a part in the creation of a programme, and, for a Champions League night of all nights, I think he would have been in disbelief, he would have been incredibly proud."
