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Over the past few weeks, people from across Europe have gathered in London to cheer on their boys. Richard Morgan and Ben Aitken went out and documented it
It’s the fans that make professional sport tick, and it’s people that make London what it is. So during the first stages of Euro 2020, we set out to capture and befriend some of London’s multinational fans as they cheered on their teams. We ate gözleme in Green Lanes with British Turks, drank pear schnapps in the garden of an Austrian chef and struggled through a bottle of Buckfast with 10,000 Scots in Leicester Square. We commiserated with Danes, swapped numbers with Swedes and defended cheddar in the face of a proud French postman.
We had a great time and met some lovely people, but what did we learn? Generally, that Londoners of all nations appreciate the city’s diversity, energy and attitude, that London is an ongoing collection of stories and journeys, and that people (for the most part) are happy and willing to tell these stories and share these journeys, and that, despite its blemishes and imperfections, London is a city that’s truly loved.
And we learned about fika, the Swedish custom of pressing pause a few times each day to drink coffee and eat pastries – a custom we have adopted to an unproductive degree. It might be time for a fika break now, as it happens…
Follow Richard on Instagram at @richardmorganstreetphotography and Ben at @benaitken85. He's the author of 'The Gran Tour: Travels with my Elders', and 'A Chip Shop in Poznan'.
Where to watch the 2021 Euros in London this week
Lowlander Grand Café. Drury Lane, WC2B 5RR.
Sebastian from Antwerp (with Bulgarian girlfriend Dimitra). Both are researching the root causes of dementia at University College London. Sebastian says: ‘When it comes to tolerance and prejudice and acceptance, nowhere is perfect, but London is the least imperfect city I know.’
Madeira Prospero. Wilcox Street, SW8 2UX.
Susanna. Manager of the bar. ‘I came to London aged 4. I love everything about the city. Except the weather. I go home for the weather. My children speak Portuguese, they have both passports, they visit Portugal two or three times a year, but this is their country. They have two homes.’
West Kensington Estate.
Mark. ‘I’ve lived on this estate all my life. I hang up my England shirts whenever there’s a tournament. None of the neighbours mind – they like that I do it.’
De Hems Dutch Café Bar. Macclesfield St, Soho, W1D 5BW.
Teddy (right) moved from Den Haag to study theatre at Goldsmiths University. ‘Best thing about London? When you go out in the evening you never know where you’ll end up. Worst thing about London? No fresh fish.’
Bar Italia. Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4RF.
Chiara and Elisa, sisters. London born and bred. Milanese mother, Sicilian father. ‘We’re Italian but we’re also Londoners. Our parents came for the opportunities, and we’ve stayed for the same reason. Who do we want to win the tournament? Italy!’
Barbeque in Franz’s garden.
Franz is a chef at the Austrian Embassy in London. ‘London is how the world should be. Apart from there should be more schnapps. And more potato salad.’ His friend Sigrid would move back to Austria if she could, ‘but only if I can take all the Brits with me.’
Leicester Square
The Two Bridges Ale House and Kitchen, Tooley St, SE1 2TZ
London Welsh Centre, Grays Inn Rd, WC1X 8UE
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