‘No One Likes Us’: Photographer attempts to recapture image of Millwall FC

A photographer has released a book of photographs that aims to take a fresh perspective on Millwall FC fans.

Jerome Favre, 46, from Avonley Road in New Cross, took on the three year project No One Likes Us because of his “fascination” with football culture.

Mr Favre said: “I’m a huge fan of football culture. I support my hometown club in Lens, Northern France.

“It’s a working-class club and the community atmosphere and culture I felt there is very similar to Millwall FC games.”

Mr Favre took photographs for his project at the stadium and its surrounding bars and cafés every match day between 2018 and 2020.

Concerned by way Millwall fans were being “vilified” by the press, Mr Favre decided to take a closer look for himself.

He said: “I wanted to create something immersive inside their world, a fresh and honest look at the fans so the narrative around them can be re-evaluated.

“I noticed there are so many families for each match in the stadium.

“There’s a sense of pride for these families, going to the game together and a community feeling you can really see.”

Millwall’s fans have a complex reputation. Their negative stereotype is rooted in numerous reports of racism and violence at games.

No other football ground has been closed down as many times because of trouble caused by the crowd.

But, they were also the first club to form an anti-racist committee and were the Football League’s family club of the year in 2017.

Mr Favre said: “I don’t think a negative reputation is justified, it’s such an overwhelming minority that causes the bad press, most people just want a good time.”

The project also makes a broader point about football culture.

Mr Favre said: “Football has been gentrified at an increasingly fast pace, I’ve turned to look towards more grassroots events or clubs, where football still feels cultural rather than transactional.

“I wanted to document the people and the places related to Millwall FC. 

“I was fascinated by the fact that Millwall was, and still is, a working-class club and a tight-knit community.”

Find Mr Favre’s book here http://www.jeromefavrephotography.com/shop

Pictured top: Picture of a Millwall FC fan that appears in Jerome Favre’s new book, No One Likes Us (Picture: Jerome Favre)