Liverpool FC Forum

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Photographic tribute to Liverpool's passionate football fans
Friday 1st August 2008 - 12:41pm

A stunning photographic exhibition for Liverpool's Capital of Culture is exploring what it means to be a football supporter in the city.

'The 12th Man' launches at Liverpool Central Library today - a unique project capturing the joy, despair, passion and friendships of Everton and Liverpool FC supporters.

Photographer Tabitha Jussa spent the whole of the 2007/08 season attending matches at Anfield and Goodison Park, meeting fans and taking hundreds of striking images celebrating the strength of belief, loyalty and pride for which 'The Blues' and 'The Reds' are renowned.

The result is a spectacular exhibition conveying all the things which make Liverpool a footballing city like no other.

From children to grandmothers, stewards to programme sellers, and parents of players to fans who have dedicated 80 years to supporting their team, the project captures the buzz in the city on match days and pays homage to the city's community spirit.

As well as local supporters, the exhibition includes fans from across the country who travel to Liverpool week-in, week-out to support their team. It also includes former players pictured in the stands - including ex-Everton stars Alex Burell, Kenny Birch, Tommy Jones, Tony McNamara and Fred Pickering.

Tabitha said: "Football is such a major part of Liverpool's culture, and the city's passion for the game is famous all over the world. The 12th Man aims to provide a fascinating insight into all aspects of the football community here - the spiritual beliefs, hopes and loyalties of these unique supporters, highlighting the unmovable support that comes from the 12th men and women of each team.

"The project is about the people, for the people, and the unconditional love they have for their team. It shows how football can help bring people together during hard times and great times, and how fans on Merseyside and beyond all have something in common, regardless of where their loyalties lie.

"I have photographed people of different ages, races, gender and nationalities, from the Blue and Red halves of the city. The one thing which ties them all together is the fact that they are all true football fans who support their team to the end."

Visitors to The 12th Man exhibition will also be treated to a sneak preview of one of the world's most eagerly anticipated football memorabilia collections. Running alongside the exhibition, items from The Everton Collection - described by Sotheby's as the greatest collection of football memorabilia relating to a single football club - will be on display.

The fascinating archive, which includes items from Everton's inception in the late 19th century to the present day, includes more than 6,000 programmes, player contracts, the first League Championship medal and even the tender to build Anfield - home to Everton before Liverpool FC were formed.

Acquired from David France by the Everton Collection Charitable Trust, following a successful bid to Heritage Lottery Fund in 2007, the collection is one of the most important sporting anthologies in the world and it is currently being catalogued at Liverpool Record Office, based at Liverpool Central Library.

The items selected for display are part of a major exhibition of The Everton Collection which will go on show in 2009.

Max Dunbar, project officer for The Everton Collection, said: "The items we have selected for display will help place Tabitha Jussa's photographs in context. It will show the history of both Everton and Liverpool supporters and how 'going to the match' has changed over the years.

"We're looking forward to putting a taster of the collection on show for fans to see in advance of next year's main exhibition."

The city council's executive member for libraries, Councillor Keith Turner, said: "The 12th Man is yet another fantastic exhibition at Central Library during our Capital of Culture year. The photographic display, along with a sneak preview of the Everton Collection, is a real treat for football fans.

The 12th Man is supported by the Liverpool Culture Company as part of the 08 celebrations. Bringing together of the Red and Blue half of the city, is the only photographic project of its kind during the city's Capital of Culture year.