Jake Green pays tribute to Leyton Orient and the rituals that bind the community

Leyton Orient has always been a part of photographer Jake Green’s life. He grew up within earshot of Brisbane Road, his weekends soundtracked by the roar of each victory. Eventually, he got a job there – first as a steward, then on the turnstiles. Some of the first photographs he ever took as a college student were of Leyton’s stadium, shot in grainy black-and-white in 1999.

Jake wouldn’t return to the stadium for another 20 years after that. He was busy setting up his own studio – Leyton of London – and making documentary films and books. In 2021, he decided to return as a photographer, and over the next few years he built a vast collection of images capturing the atmosphere as well as the fans, staff and players alike. This March, these images will take over Leyton High Road in a public exhibition titled Home Team.

“I was instantly made to feel at home,” says Jake, remembering his return to the stadium. Although familiar, many things had changed. The former stewards he’d worked with two decades ago were now running the club – and the neighbourhood had changed too. Like many neighbourhoods in London, rising house prices and gentrification have changed the makeup of the area. “From people coming to London for the first time, to families settling in Leyton from other countries and people moving in from other neighbourhoods – there’s been a lot of change,” Jake reflects. “The club plays a crucial role in bringing those communities together, and I really wanted to embrace that diversity.”

Jake also captures the intergenerational pull of football, and how the sport can bind generations of a family to the same team, same stadium, and same rituals. An image of a father and son – or perhaps grandfather and son – below, captures this perfectly. “It sums up the anticipation of making your way towards a game… the match day ritual, the calm before the storm,” Jake reflects. “I just feel like this represents the small moments that really mean something.”

This exhibition is a celebration of Leyton Orient’s community, woven together by the players, fans, and local artists who live and breathe the club. The images exhibited at the local pie and mash shop are curated by Leyton Orient winger Theo Archibald, and the exhibition also includes a mural of Leyton Orient defender Omar Beckles and his first coach Danny Bailey, painted by mural artist Woskerski. Jake also collaborated with artist Tamasyn Gambell, who handmade a tapestry using recycled carpet with the words ‘This Club Has Soul’: a quote from manager Richie Wellens. “Every additional element gives you a new way to connect to the project and each person brings a unique perspective,” says Jake.

For Jake, this project is as much about London as it is about the football. It’s about community, and the power of rituals to connect people of all ages and from all walks of life. It’s not just the goals and chants, but the smaller moments that bind us – the pre-match amble, the half-time pints, and the comfort of knowing your home team will always welcome you back, even after 20 years away.