Pembantaian or Tragedi
*by Andy Fuller, Utrecht University Ikhwan, a teenage fan of Arema, told his mother and sister that he was going off to a Qur’anic study group on the night of 1st October 2022. Of course, he was given permission by his mother to do so. He hadn’t returned the following morning though. He wasn’t always under […]
Contextualising the Kanjuruhan Tragedy
by Andy Fuller, Utrecht University Football is propelled by rivalries. These rivalries exist on and off the field: between fans and players. The passion of the fans boosts the value tv rights for covering the big games. Stadiums are sold to capacity and sports bars and pubs are filled while partisan fans are glued to […]
Statement from the Bonek Writers Forum on the Kanjuruhan Tragedy
This article was first published at Sejarah Persebaya. Translated by Andy Fuller* The Kanjuruhan Tragedy which happened during the Arema FC vs Persebaya game which has resulted in the death of 127 people (at the time of writing) is deeply concerning. The event was triggered when the police fired tear gas into the grandstands when […]
Prospect Oval Pilgrimage
My Aunty Hannah is an artist: a former-painter, but now a ceramicist. I remember ‘artist’ was how she was introduced to my brother and myself as boys: she had been living in the Netherlands for some years and my first proper memories of her are only as a boy, about 4-5. ‘Artist’ was used as a […]
Moorabbin and Disposable Heritage
I drove south today. I don’t have any memories of this ground. This was the first time I have been there. The Saints are moving back to Moorabbin after failing to establish themselves at Seaford and not coming to an agreement with Cricket Victoria to share the Junction Oval. This is their other historical home: […]
Playing the Stadium
Zack Hample and the Fine Art of Ballhawking “I’ve snagged exactly 90 balls at this stadium over the years. So, I’m hoping to get at least 10 today and reach triple digits. At some point in my life I’d love to get 100 balls at every stadium and if I do it today, this will […]
Le Bois d’Oingt
Pastoral Football I took these photos while on holiday in 2015. We were in Lyon and then went to the countryside for a few days. We passed through this village a few times and on one occasion I took these photos. It was hot and there was no breeze. The absence of grass makes the […]
Hello Again, Princes Park
Growing up in Melbourne during the 1980s, Princes Park was one of the regular grounds I attended with my father and brother. I was an Essendon fan (I have long-since renounced them) and my brother was a Carlton fan: he has renounced them too, along with Australian rules. And so, my father would alternate taking […]
After Lebak Bulus
When we talk about football infrastructure in Jakarta, it is easier to talk about the stadiums that have been destroyed than those that have been built. Stadion Ikada was demolished to build Lapangan Monas (Sukarno); Stadion Menteng was demolished to build a park (Governor Sutiyoso); Stadion Lebak Bulus was demolished to make space for a […]
Norwegian Fields
Karvikhamn, Norway, October 2016 Finnsnes, Norway, October 2016 Finnsness, Norway, October 2016 Finnsness, Norway, October 2016 Karvikhamn, Norway, October 2016 (below and above)