How did it come to this football? London during COVID

London football didn’t have a lockdown

Climb fences, discover secret passages, make random teams. How did it come to this?

In London, the world capital of football populated by thousands of teams spread between Premier League and Non-League football, the ball failed to stop even during the lockdown.

H shows off his ball skills. Mabley Green, Hackney – March 2021

Players at Power League, Tottenham gain access to a pitch through a hole in side netting – February 2021

To ensure a pitch at Power League Tottenham teams would often nominate a player to arrive as early as 8am to reserve one. This footballer has a snooze whilst he awaits his team mates / S rests post game. Tottenham Power League – March 2021

Made in the final months of England’s third Coronavirus Lockdown, this is a documentary photography series that follows footballers breaking national lockdown restrictions to play Britain’s favourite sport.

The projects of Joshua T Gibbons centres around two football pitches, Mabley Green in Borough of Hackney and Power League Tottenham in the Borough of Haringey; environmental, action and portrait photography combine to demonstrate the lengths London’s footballers will go to play the Beautiful Game.