Copyright: Peter Dench Fans watch the match in The Park pub opposite Anfield stadium. The Park pub opposite Anfield stadium is adorned with Liverpool memorabilia including cardboard cut outs of forwards Roberto Firmino, Mo Sala and Sadio Mané.

Pubs just like The Park opposite Anfield where Liverpool’s soccer starved supporters shared all the drama unfolding on the pub’s big screen with cardboard cut outs of their heroes.įanatical Fans making the most of Lockdown. Copyright: Peter DenchĪnd when pubs were finally allowed to reopen it presented a step back towards normality, with socially distanced fans meeting to create their own big match atmospheres. Copyright: Peter Dench Quiet streets surround The Den less than an hour before kick-off. Copyright: Peter Dench A woman climbs on to a post outside The Den to take a photograph of a Millwall match. West Ham United 0 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers, 17.30 kick-off, 20.06.20.

West Ham United fans enjoy a birthday picnic outside The London Stadium. Cycling to see Swansea at Millwall through the smallest of gaps in the stand, while a picnic in the park, the Olympic Park to be exact, gave Hammers fans a London Stadium backdrop for their sandwiches, and, one assumes, some bubbles with the beers, while offering Peter another perfect frame to sum up what Lockdown football for the fan was really all about. It seemed a case of whatever helped ease the pain. Outside Villa Park two fans opted to tune into the match day commentary on their phone, just to be close to the derby day action against bitter local rivals Wolves, while another marched around the ground waving a hurling stick while walking her dog… not forsaking her normal match day tribute to Jack Grealish who played the game as a youth. Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 0 West Ham United, 20.15 kick-off, 23.06.20. Fans watch a London derby at an Ethiopian and Eritrean Cafe directly opposite the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Park Lane N17. Copyright: Peter DenchĪt Tottenham one miserable Friday night, for example, he came across three Manchester United fanatics who had driven 200 miles to watch the game on an iPad opposite the stadium. They were all brought together at the Emirates Stadium by one of their mothers. They are joined by children who are all related from four different families. Copyright: Peter Dench Numan, seated wearing a blue cap, travelled from East London to watch the game on a tablet with his friend Omair who lives locally. Life long Arsenal fans Conor, left, and Alan travelled to the Emirates Stadium from South London to share a few drinks and watch the game on a mobile phone. Up and down the country he found them out there, doing whatever it took to get close to the action. So despite requests to stay away, some fanatics still yearned to be within touching distance of their idols and photographer Peter Dench sought them out, going to grounds himself to see what match day come Project Restart was all about. Brought up on pre game rituals featuring clothes, pals, pubs, pints and meticulously planned travel, come kick off, these fans were lost. Copyright: Peter Denchīut for some the stay away guidance proved too much. Copyright: Peter Dench Young Liverpool fans watch the players coach arrive at Anfield stadium ahead of their match against Burnley. 10 year-old Devon lives next to Anfield on Anfield Road.

So when he produces a book called Lockdown Fanatical Football Fans you know exactly what you are going to get.Ĭovid clampdowns in 2020 had left stadiums empty, denying football fanatics their life long match day fix. Peter Dench is one of those photographers whose pictures tell the story.

Fanatical football fans