Fitba in Sighthill, Glasgow, 2004 | Toby Binder

Photographed by Toby Binder in Sighthill, Glasgow, in 2004, this image forms part of a wider body of work documenting young people and football culture in Scotland.

Although originally from Germany, Binder first came to Scotland in 1996 and became fascinated by the country’s relationship with football. Beyond the professional game, he was drawn to the role football played within communities and the way it occupied everyday public space.

With Scotland once again competing on the World Cup stage, Binder’s photographs offer a reminder that the country’s connection to football extends far beyond international tournaments and stadiums. His work focuses on the everyday culture surrounding the game and the place it continues to hold within communities across Scotland.

Football, or “fitba” as it is often known in Scotland, sits at the centre of this photograph. A group of boys play beneath the flats in Sighthill.

Reflecting on his time photographing football culture in Scotland, Binder said:

“For me, there is no other nation in Europe suffering a larger gap between passion-created expectations on the one hand and success, or better, failure, on the other. I keep my fingers crossed that the Bravehearts will finally qualify again for the World Cup.”

More than twenty years after this photograph was taken, it remains a simple but powerful observation of football’s place within Scottish life.

This photograph is currently available through the BCA Print Editions Programme.