Sun, sea and slide tackles: San Sebastian’s football scene
- Text by Elliott Wilcox
- Photography by Elliott Wilcox
It’s 10am on Saturday June 24, and I’m on the Bahia de La Concha in San Sebastian. Still digesting last night’s dinner, I take the daily pilgrimage along the sandy beach with my girlfriend and her family. Before long – much to their dismay – I find myself being drawn by a football match taking place on the sand.
The game is an annual fixture that takes place between two teams – the San Sebastian Solteros, wearing blue and the Casados, in yellow. (The team names translate directly to the ‘Singles’ and the ‘Marrieds.’)
I take out my camera and start shooting the players in action. I am drawn particularly to the player’s reactions, routines and team talks. As half-time hits, I capture them cool off, glug from beach taps and form circles as they formulate heated plans for the second half.
Eventually, I turn my camera to the fans and the random passersby who have started watching the game. They’re entranced. I’m not sure if it’s the tribe mentality, the magnetism of athleticism, or the time it allows people to switch off and reflect, but somehow the match has managed to draw generations of people together. And that’s the beauty of football.
See more of Elliot Wilcox’s work on his official website.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
How trans rights activism and sex workers’ solidarity emerged in the ’70s and ’80s
Shoulder to Shoulder — In this extract from writer Jake Hall’s new book, which deep dives into the history of queer activism and coalition, they explore how anti-TERF and anti-SWERF campaigning developed from the same cloth.
Written by: Jake Hall
A behind the scenes look at the atomic wedgie community
Stretched out — Benjamin Fredrickson’s new project and photobook ‘Wedgies’ queers a time-old bullying act by exploring its erotic, extreme potential.
Written by: Isaac Muk
“Welcome to the Useless Class”: Ewan Morrison in conversation with Irvine Welsh
For Emma — Ahead of the Scottish author’s new novel, he sat down with Irvine Welsh for an in-depth discussion of its dystopic themes, and the upcoming AI “tsunami”.
Written by: Irvine Welsh
“Struggle helps people come together”: Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
Huck’s February interview — To hear more about the release of the indie darling’s first collaborative album, we caught up with her and Devra Hoff to hear about the record, motherhood in music and why the ’80s are back,
Written by: Isaac Muk
Nxdia: “Poems became an escape for me”
What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Egyptian-British alt-pop shapeshifter Nxdia.
Written by: Nxdia
Kathy Shorr’s splashy portraits inside limousines
The Ride of a Lifetime — Wanting to marry a love of cars and photography, Kathy Shorr worked as a limousine driver in the ’80s to use as a studio on wheels. Her new photobook explores her archive.
Written by: Miss Rosen