From the publisher:
Oldham, a post industrial Northern English town on the outskirts of Manchester is home to lower league football team Oldham Athletic, or the 'Latics'. A club with a long and eventful history and with a small but passionate support base. It's fans are local and will regularly battle through bitter weather to support their mighty 'Latics', despite the club's struggles on and off the pitch.There is a unique, exciting and sometimes moving atmosphere at every game due to the closeness of the supporters. This can be accounted for by the nature of Oldham and its history; a deprived ex industrial town where many of the residents survive in a low wage economy. Through this solidarity formed by their combined following of the club, a strong community bond has been formed.
These pictures, created by photographer David Shaw, document the community through its highs and lows, focusing on the many characters and supporters groups involved and the theatre of football.
The author:
David Shaw is a documentary photographer and journalist from the UK who works on a range of investigative stories, assignments and personal projects across many story telling mediums. His work has taken him throughout Europe, The Middle East and Asia but he also works on long-term projects in the UK.
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