From Arsenal fan to passionate chronicler of non-league football culture, NHS worker and amateur photographer Daniel Goody captures the heart and soul of grassroots fandom. His black-and-white photo series at Canvey Island FC explores the joy, connection, and chaos of match day from the terraces, offering a fresh perspective on the beautiful game.

When lifelong Arsenal fan Daniel Goody found Premier League tickets out of reach, he rediscovered his love for football in the raw and intimate atmosphere of non-league matches. With his camera in hand and a keen eye honed through years of street photography, Daniel set out to document the spirit of the game at Canvey’s Movie Starr Stadium. His evocative black-and-white photos celebrate the fans, their rituals, and the vibrant culture that makes non-league football feel like home.

Daniel Goody: I come from Chelmsford in Essex, and work in a Pharmacy for the NHS. But I’d say I’m an amateur photographer and photography has been my main passion / hobby for the last 8 years.

Lower Block: Has Canvey Island always been your team?

DG: I have been an Arsenal supporter since I was 7 years old. I went to my first game at Highbury, Arsenal v Sheffield United with my uncle in the 1992/93 season. Recently though, I was introduced to non-league football by a friend of mine and fell in love with the game all over again. Since then, I’ve also been closely following Canvey Island FC. 

Canvey is a great club with an excellent local support. When my friend invited me along to a game two years ago, I didn’t know what to expect. But the football was of a good standard and I loved being amongst the fans again. It had been a few years since I had been to a football match. After being priced out of watching Arsenal on a regular basis, non-league has brought that spark of the match day back for me. Canvey was fairly local to me growing up and I have many fond memories of the place, with friends and family who live on the island, so I feel I have a connection there.

Growing up my footballing idols were David Seaman and Dennis Bergkamp. Seaman because I fancied myself as a goalie when I played and his penalty saving abilities for Arsenal and for England at Euro 96 cemented him as one of my heroes.

With Bergkamp it was the way he saw and played the game that drew me in. With jaw dropping skills, ability to score from anywhere with either foot, or making a killer pass he made the game beautiful to watch. 

LB: What drew you towards football as a fan? Are there any experiences that you felt connected you to football and football culture?

DG: From the age of 7, when I first got into football, I wanted every Arsenal kit going with my favourite player on the back. I had a big collection of shirts throughout the years, adding various European teams to that as I went. We used to collect and trade Panini football stickers in the playground and play headers and volleys on the street. Those are very fond memories.

On a match day, it’s not just about the 90 mins on the pitch. It’s about the rituals and the social stuff too. Meeting with friends. Having a few beers before and/or after the game. It’s about that halftime pie or burger, that hot Bovril on a winter’s day, the banter and singing on the terraces. It just keeps you coming back for more.  From what I’ve experienced so far at non-league there seems to be a closer connection between the players and fans. It makes you feel more involved with the club and that feels extra special.

I also love that at Canvey they still do a 50-50 draw and get fans involved with things like song requests for the halftime play list. The fans work hard by giving their time volunteering, doing a lot of the media stuff and writing for the programme. You’ve gotta love that!

LB: How did this project start? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to cover football culture?

DG: It started in September 2022 when a friend of mine invited me to a Canvey Island game. I hadn’t been to a football match for years and saw it as an opportunity to take my camera and photograph something different as I was mainly shooting street photography.

As my gear is more suited for Street and Documentary photography, I decided to document the match day at non-league from the fans perspective rather than concentrating on the action.

My favourite photograph so far has to be the one taken at Canvey v Haringey Borough. Canvey scored an injury time winner to win 3-2 in a tight game. All hell broke loose in the shed, when the goal went in, beer went flying everywhere and fans were jumping all over the place. I got soaked and a few bumps but got that shot and it holds great memories.

It was all purely to record something that I felt was under documented. To capture the positive side of football culture. I want to show the passion, the identities and connection that the fans have with their club. 

My love for football is as much about these guys on the terraces as it is for the beautiful game.

I want to capture the whole experience and rituals of a matchday at non-league. Maybe to show outsiders what they’re missing out on.

LB: What about any photographic or artistic influences?

DG: My style is more from a street and documentary photography background and I’ve been inspired by the work of Saul Leiter, Joel Meyerowitz, Josef Koudelka and Robert Frank to name a few. But with the beautiful game in mind, I am currently enjoying the work of George Wood and Miles Myerscough-Harris.

LB: What do you think makes photographing football lifestyle and culture so fascinating?

DG: That it’s different every time you go. The identities of each club are different. You might visit the same grounds over and over but you never know what might happen. The game is unpredictable. The reactions and emotions from the fans are different each time.

I like the connection and deep sense of loyalty. I love the idea that there are people that dedicate their life to the culture and their football club. They leave and breathe it and I enjoy capturing that.

LB: What’s next for you?

DG: Right now, to just continue to repeat what I’m doing as I’m enjoying it a lot. I’d like to do more away games with Canvey, visit other grounds and get more portraits.

One day when I have enough work I would like to make a book. But I don’t know yet what that will look like.

I do have other projects on the go that are not related to football, one being a long-term project about Southend Pier and a few other smaller ideas.

Keep up with Dan and his photo series by following him on Instagram and X.

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