For many football fans, the matchday experience extends beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch – it’s the atmosphere, the emotions, and the community that bring the sport to life. For Jack Noble, a dedicated Dagenham & Redbridge supporter, this passion has taken a unique turn. Jack documents the highs and lows of following his beloved club with a twist: he shoots his photos on a Polaroid camera. There’s a nostalgic feel to Polaroid photos that fits so well with documenting rudimentary football culture.
Sharing these raw, nostalgic images on Instagram under the handle @polaroid_football, Jack has created a visual archive of his experiences, following Dagenham home and away. His work even includes a trip to the Emirates Stadium to watch Arsenal take on Bolton.
“I had the idea for a little while, and a had a look to see if anyone else was doing it and I couldn’t find anything. Polaroid photos have a certain charm to them and in trying to capture a kinda nostalgic feel to them. I never had a plan with starting this account I just wanted to capture the games I watched and hope that people enjoy them.”
“Before I started this account I had no experience of photography at all. I would go to football games almost every weekend and wanted to have a way to remember them by. Polaroids give me an opportunity to do that. I didn’t ’t know if anyone else would be interested in the photos that I took to be honest. I make tons of mistakes and a lot of photos are not useable but I hope in time I can get better and turn this into something that I can be proud of.”
Jack, a lifelong Essex resident from Canvey Island, has been a season ticket holder at Dagenham & Redbridge for an impressive 16 years. His connection to the club began through family. “My dad and brother started going to Dagenham during the 2006/07 promotion season. Back then, I didn’t know much about football, but I wanted to be with them. When they talked about getting season tickets the following year, I asked if I could get one too.” That decision sparked a deep bond with the club, leading to unforgettable moments, including an FA Cup run and a victorious League 2 playoff final at Wembley.
When asked what Dagenham & Redbridge means to him, Jack is quick to list a few of his idols: “Most of my idols are from when I was younger – players like Paul Benson, Jon Nurse, Danny Green, Josh Scott, and Romain Vincelot. But I also want to mention current Dagger, Dion Pereira. He’s got bundles of talent, and I have no doubt he’ll be back in the Football League next season.”
For Jack, it’s the emotional side of football that makes photographing it so fascinating. “You’re trying to capture the emotions of people. I know how I feel when my team plays, what it’s like to score or concede so when you can capture that you know that whoever sees it whenever they are they can relate.”
While Jack is still honing his skills, one thing is clear: his Polaroid project captures the essence of what it means to be a football fan. Whether it’s the electric atmosphere of a matchday at Victoria Park or the grandeur of a Premier League fixture at the Emirates, Jack’s photos provide a snapshot of football culture through a distinctly retro lens.
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