November 3rd 2023, and Shamrock Rovers have just put four past Sligo at the Tallaght Stadium, a fitting way to bring home a historic fourth straight League of Ireland Premier Division title.
Already the Republic of Ireland’s most decorated football club, this being their 21st league title, it was also the second occasion that they’d achieved such a feat, previously winning four in a row in the mid 1980s.
Much has changed since then; For the club, there were the inevitable up and downs, faces coming in and out, and a new stadium. But perhaps the most notable shift has come on the Tallaght terraces – the fan culture galvanised by a core of passionate and committed younger supporters.
Such supporters include lifelong fan, Dubliner Jon Daczkowski.
Daczkowski is passionate about Shamorck Rovers, fan culture and photography, and preserving the role they play with his gritty, documentary stye photographs.
“Having a visual history of fans and fan groups is necessary,” says Daczkowski who relishes the bond between team and the terraces and says supporters make all the difference.
“I think genuinely the link between the players and fans, that they can push a team forward is what brought me into appreciating fan culture,” he says.
In his own words, Daczkowski talks through documenting Rovers’ fans during their historic 2023 season, and shares a selection of his favourite photographs which will help preserve not just the memory of that season, but will also serve as an important documentation of those fans and their culture.
“The idea of the 4-in-a-row (4IAR) project was to document Rovers’ historic season completing the club’s second ever 4IAR. This feat of doing a second 4IAR has not been done by any other club in the country. Rovers first did the 4IAR between 1983 and 1987 under two managers, the streak was started by icon Jim McLaughlin and completed by player-manager Dermot Keeley. However, it was only Stephen Bradley who would complete the four successive league wins. Bradley would first win the league in an unbeaten season in 2019 thanks to COVID helping cut the league short. In the winter that just past of 2023, Bradley would once again lift the league title, completing the second 4IAR.
“4IAR was originally something that seemed more myth than reality for younger Hoops fans like me. That is why I felt compelled to document this season and being up in the stands home or away. This season and project had me circling the SRFC Ultras and documenting the activities of Ireland’s oldest continuous ultras. From awayday buses, to setting up displays, or even just drinking cans, this project despite using the backdrop of historic sporting achievements, is more about the fan scene, and the reaction to the verge of glory. There is a lot of chaos, a lot of fun, and a lot of good memories made. I genuinely believe, this 2023 season, was one of the highlights of my adult life so far.
“I look back on this season only with fondness despite the many moments where we felt the dream was over, from the difficulties at the start of the season or the lack of belief in the team, many wrote rovers of to begin with, one paper claiming; “Even if Shamrock Rovers eventually get their act together, it may already be too late for title hopes,” which was obviously not the case.
“I was guilty in not having belief in the squad, but I chose to document regardless of the feeling, and that is how I ended up with some of my favourite photos of the season. The pandemonium taking six points away from Pats in the two games in Richmond, or the late equaliser up in Derry the second time around, or maybe even our unbeaten streak against Bohs the four times last season, these moments all left me with some photos to be proud of.
“The season left me proud not only of the squad, but also the fan scene, the coming behind the Ultras despite the early scepticism towards them (which I think reflected the fan scene’s mindset in general with the poor results), from fans being involved with the corteo in Inchicore, displays and pyro. I think alongside the on-pitch success, the club is in a positive place mentally, and the fan scene will hopefully grow further in the next season where Rovers will look to do an unprecedented five-in-a-row under Stephen Bradley.
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