Photographer Jérôme Favre Looks to Subvert the Image of Millwall Football Fans
‘No One Likes Us’ is a new book that documents his experiences with the notorious London club.
When it comes to the world of football hooliganism, few clubs have carried such a tainted legacy as South London’s Millwall F.C. Known as arguably the most hated club in the UK, the violent side of their supporters dates all the way back to the start of the last century against their still bitter London rivals, West Ham F.C. Countless of shameful incidents have occurred over the course of their 135 year history, including countless pitch invasions and missiles thrown pitch-side, brawls between opposing fans and the tragic murder of a West Ham supporter at the hands of one of Millwall’s firms.
While there is still a portion of Millwall fans that sometimes too proudly dip into this heritage, a new book, however, seeks to subvert the image of what the modern day Millwall supporter is today. Created by French photographer Jérôme Favre, No One Likes Us (named after the popular Millwall chant) chronicles the past five years of the club’s ambience and was first inspired by the connection Favre saw in Millwall to his own boyhood club, RC Lens, in Northern France.
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Courtesy Of The Artist And The Hole
Upon moving to New Cross, London, Favre began attending matches at The Den and although “intimidating at first,” he recalled, people were more curious than aggressive — noting that the fans are not like how they’re portrayed in the media. Take for instance, the scary tatted man on the cover: “this guy genuinely looked scary. When I saw the tattoos on the back of his skull and the stands in the background, though, I knew I had to approach him. It turns out he was the gentlest, most polite gentleman,” said Favre.
Spanning 90 pages in length, the book takes an unapologetic approach to documenting one of the world’s most misunderstood football clubs, which unlike the growing disparity of bigger clubs and its fans, still feels like a family. “People come with their family: men, women, boys and girls, sometimes across three generations. Not only for the football but for the sense of community and togetherness.”
For those looking to purchase, No One Likes Us is available for $19 USD at the photographer’s webshop.
Elsewhere, Othelo Gervacio meditates on the cycle of life in Mind Flowers.
