World football is rich with culture. The action on the pitch often steals the mainstream limelight, but it’s the equally compelling stories that unfold in the stands that captivate so many of us and create unique bonds between different groups of football supporters. Oliver Dahle, a Stockholm-based photographer, has dedicated his work to this very narrative – documenting the deeply passionate and committed world of Djurgårdens IF‘s supporters.
Dahle’s photography delves into the essence of what makes football culture so intoxicating. “I’m more drawn to what happens around the pitch than what the players are doing on it,” he confides. For Dahle, the true heartbeat of the club pulses through the stands, where fans’ collective energy and loyalty define their collective character.
Dahle’s fascination with football culture is not just academic. His personal journey from the historic Stockholm Stadium to the modern, expansive Tele2 Arena is marked by nostalgia and a growing disillusionment with the commercialisation of the game.
Inspired by the candid, sun-drenched photography that emerged from Venezia FC, Dahle sought to bring a similar aesthetic to Stockholm, though from a distinctly different vantage point. Embracing the unpredictability of 35mm film, Dahle’s work emphasises emotion and spontaneity…
“I was born and raised in Stockholm. After spending a few years studying in southern Sweden and living in exile in Italy, I’m now back in the Swedish capital, where I’ve been for just over a year. I’m a freelance journalist, creative, and lecturer – mainly working in fashion, a passion of mine for many years.
What I particularly enjoy about fashion and clothing is the sociological aspect: how they serve as forms of both conformity and differentiation, especially visible within fan culture. On one hand, there’s the desire to have the coolest parka or trainers; on the other, there are groups dressed uniformly to avoid police identification or to find rare vintage pieces. I hope I capture some of this dynamic in my photography.“
“I support Djurgårdens IF, and have done so for as long as I can remember. It’s very much a family affair – my grandpa is a big supporter, my mum played in the youth teams, and so did I. One of my biggest achievements is converting my sister into a supporter, and she later met her boyfriend in the stands.
I truly realised how much the club meant to me when I was living away from Stockholm. It became such a strong part of my identity – that I was both a Stockholmer and a “Djurgårdare.” I watched every game on TV and traveled back to Sweden for the big matches. The club became my strongest connection to the city I love.
During my time living in Rome, Florence, and Milan, I attended many games, and it only deepened my passion for my own club. To me, being a football fan is about much more than the matches. It’s an all-encompassing lifestyle, day in and day out. I struggle to understand new, international supporters who don’t have a connection to the city or history of the club they support.“
“I’m more drawn to what happens around the pitch than what the players are doing on it. Players come and go, but the fans in the stands are, in my view, the true heart of the club. Especially in Sweden, where the 50+1 rule means that supporters actually own the clubs. It’s common in Sweden to see unified actions among rival fan bases. Earlier this year, there was a nationwide protest against arbitrary supporter bans. Currently, my club and Hammarby IF – our rivals and co-tenants of our stadium – are jointly boycotting arena bars and kiosks due to price hikes, with visiting teams also joining in.”
“We used to play at Stockholm Stadium, an old brick arena that looks more like a castle than a football stadium. It had running tracks around the pitch, wooden benches, and pillars obstructing the view. I like to romanticise that era, even though I was quite young when we moved to our new stadium. As I’ve recently turned 30, I’m getting more nostalgic about football every day, especially with so much I dislike about the modern game.”
“When I returned to Stockholm after nearly eight years away, I felt the urge to get more involved with the club – beyond just standing in the terrace and singing. There’s a tradition of talented supporter photographers at our club, which inspired me to start shooting during games. I felt my creative side and passion for supporter culture would make a good match.
I’ve been really inspired by the new wave of candid football photography, often shot on film, that started with Venezia FC. The sun-drenched photography featuring “ordinary” people in football shirts with Mediterranean backdrops and oversaturated colours struck a chord with me. I wanted to do something similar in Stockholm, but from a different perspective. That was my starting point, though I’ve since taken a slightly different route.
For me, it’s important that the photos capture emotion and the anarchic spirit of the stands, rather than being technically perfect. Since I shoot exclusively on 35mm film, plenty has gone wrong, but some of those mistakes have turned out beautifully.
Several supporters have reached out to ask for prints of the photos to hang at home, which means a lot to me. Earlier this summer, Jacob Widell Zetterström, my favourite player, got signed by Derby in the Championship. A few days after the signing, he messaged me on Instagram to say that one of my photos of him is his favourite photo of all time (photo 12). That made me feel like I was 12 years old again.
I have a soft spot for shooting pyro; it always looks cool. Our ultra supporters also have a soft spot for lighting pyro, so it’s a good match!”
“My photographic journey began during my years in Italy. I was drawn to architecture and started photographing buildings, cars, and landscapes – very inanimate subjects where I could take my time. In contrast, with supporter photography, you have to be reactive. I’m quite reserved and shy by nature, but the camera gives me something to hide behind, allowing me to be in the middle of it all.
There are so many talented photographers whose work has influenced me. I admire the rawness of Juergen Teller’s work, the documentary style of Hedi Slimane, and how Martin Parr finds beauty in the mundane. I’m also inspired by Wes Anderson’s compositions. And of course, artists like Corbin Shaw, who engages with hegemonic cultures in a sensitive way, have influenced me as well.”
“I believe fan culture, especially the ultras, is one of the last true subcultures in our postmodern society. People from all walks of life come together as one in the stands or when traveling to away games. The way they dress, the passion for the club, and even the borderline illegal activities—it’s all incredibly fascinating. It’s a cultural expression that should be celebrated, though it often isn’t.”
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