The photographers were taken by Roger Mayne, one of the most influential photographers in 20th century British social history.
Much of Mayne’s work represents “the simple ecstasy of youth”.
They go on display at the OOF Gallery in the heart of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, the first exhibition dedicated to portraying football in Roger Mayne’s work that features original prints of some of his iconic photographs.
“These are images of kids at play doing what they do best,” the gallery says. “They show children living totally free, expressing themselves even in harsh, deprived circumstances but showing joy against the odds.”
Mayne’s images with his unique sensitivity captured the poverty and hardship of inner city life in post-War London seven decades ago — the children obsessed with football and full of energy and life.
His snapshots catch the moments with kids diving to save wild shots on the hard ground of the back streets and leaping in the air to head the ball or dribble down the middle of the road.
The exhibition opens November 28 and runs to March 1 at the Oof Gallery at 744 Tottenham High Road (closed December 21 to January 14), admission free. The gallery is open 10am to 5pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11am to 5pm on Saturdays and 12pm to 4pm Sundays (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).
OOF is the world’s only contemporary art gallery in a football stadium, situated in Warmington House in the heart of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, founded in 2018 by art critic Eddy Frankel with Justin and Jennie Hammond.
