West Ham season ticket holder to display 'Long Live the Boleyn' photos at charity exhibition

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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_6 December 2017

For many, West Ham’s move from Upton Park and the Boleyn Ground to their new London Stadium in Stratford has been a tough spot over the last two seasons.

There is still a strong sense of anger and resentment over the decision to uproot the club from their home of 112 years.

However, as opposed to simply channelling anger over the move, one fan is keen to preserve the spirit and memories of the Boleyn.

Freddie Bonfanti, a London based photographer and Hammers season ticket holder, captured the sense of their famous old home and produced a book ‘Long Live the Boleyn’ late last year.

Now, the images from his book are being exhibited in east London this month as he looks to further share his work with the West Ham fans.

“We all knew the Boleyn would no longer exist after the 2015/16 season,” Bonfanti told Standard Sport.

“I obsessively wanted to archive and ’save’ with my photographs as many of those familiar places and experiences as possible.

“I’m a season ticket holder and like everyone else, I was very fond of the place and the Saturday routines.

“At first I thought it would just be a personal project but the more I shot, the more I realised the photographs were telling a story, which I wanted to share with the rest of our fans.”

Photo: Freddie Bonfanti

20% of the profits made from the exhibition, which opens on Thursday, December 7 and runs until Christmas Eve, will be donated to DT38, a charity in memory of former Hammers academy player Dylan Tombides.

Tombides sadly passed away aged 20 in April 2014 having suffered from testicular cancer, and Bonfanti paid tribute to the work of the late striker’s mother, who now runs the charity.

“Dylan was such a great prospect and one of the brightest young talents at West Ham. We all knew he was struggling with the illness but we all hoped for the best.

Tombides, an Australian U23 international, passed away in 2014 

“His mum Tracy Lee runs the charity, they are doing a fantastic job to educate people and raise awareness and it just felt right. I hope I can raise as much as possible over the 3 weeks.”

The exhibition opens Thursday 7th December, 7-10pm, free entry. Open daily 8th-24th December, 9am-5pm at Stour Space, 7 Roach Road, Hackney Wick, London, E3 2PA

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