An Ode to Wembley
An Ode to Wembley
An Ode to Wembley
Wembley may be the crown jewel of English football, but its real soul resides further east in London.
In the shadow of the Olympic Stadium — England’s other, beaming and gleaming monument to sport — lies Hackney Marshes.
There, the grass may be thicker, higher, and muddier than Wembley’s pristine green, but the passion exhibited for the beautiful game is right on par.
It’s where David Beckham first learnt how to bend it, where Ian Wright first dazzled a crowd, and where Bobby Moore first studied the game he read better than anyone.
Today, its 74 pitches remain the nest for so many great careers to be — but, equally, the home for others that never were.
But, whether you’re between academies or between pub leagues, there’s a game for you here.
In a brilliant photo set, Baker expresses the unique life of a rare and magical home of football, capturing the richness of Hackney’s offering to the sport on one weekend morning.
Only two Sunday League teams will get to Wembley this year for the FA Trophy final… but who needs Wembley when you’ve got The Marshes?
Photos by Baker, words by Sunday League legend Zack Goldman, posted by Sunday League flop Nathen McVittie
