Looking for something?

Tap outside or press close

NewsPrint

Indie football zine Pickles brings politics to the fore

You might think that "thoughtfulness" and "football zine" are two things that don't go together. But if that's the case, you must be unaware of Pickles magazine.

Written By:
Cover of Pickles magazine issue 2/9 featuring vintage-style illustrations and text on a tan background with blue stripe at base

Founded in 2011, it's an indie football magazine that celebrates the best in football culture and shines a light on the most interesting stories, all with bucket loads of visual style. And the latest issue is no exception.

Issue 2/9 features a striking cover image by London illustrator Michael Parkin, one which reflects the circumstances of the issue's creation. "We started working on this issue as a global pandemic was declared and football pulled up the drawbridge," explains Pickles founder Ned Read. "It left us pondering the role football plays in our lives and the sense of identity it gives us. Instead of mindlessly chanting 'who are ya?' on the terraces, we decided to give it a bit more thought. So the latest issue of Pickles focuses on football and politics and why they don’t mix but maybe they should."

The issue covers a range of talking points, "from Antonio Conte's reign at InterMilan and past allegiance to Juventus, to the game’s ongoing failure to address the issue of racism," he adds. "We take a closer look at the football scene in the South West of England and Ian McMillan, the Bard of Barnsley remembers a time when we could aimlessly stare out of a train window, in an original poem for Pickles."

As always, the zine has enlisted some top-class illustrators including Chester Holme, Laurie Avon and Raj Dhunna for the issue, which is on sale now here.

Pickles magazine issue 2/9 cover featuring illustrated football-themed iconography and figures drawn in brown ink on kraft paper by Michael Parkin
Open pages of Pickles magazine showing text on left and Michael Parkin's illustration of a raised fist with "Politics on Football Don't Mix" text on right
Open magazine spread showing crowded terrace of football supporters in black and white photograph with "The View From The Terraces" headline on right page
Open Pickles magazine spread showing Michael Parkin's illustrated cover with "Stand Out" and "Speak Up" messaging alongside "Political Football" article text
Two pages from Pickles magazine issue 2/9, with an illustration of Antonio Conte in Inter Milan blue on the left and bold typography reading "Conte Winning Is Everything" on the right
Open spread of Pickles magazine showing article "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" with bold typography and colourful illustration of football players on a pitch with suspended geometric shapes above
Open spread of Pickles magazine issue 2/9 showing multiple photographs of people arranged in geometric patterns across the pages
Michael Parkin's illustration for Pickles magazine issue 2/9 features three vintage football boots in yellow, green and red with splattered ink effects overlaid on a beige background with white text reading "The Devon Tangle
Open spread from Pickles magazine issue 2/9 featuring Michael Parkin's illustration of a footballer deconstructed into component parts against a red background
An illustrated spread from Pickles magazine showing an isometric city scene with orange and brown buildings, a train passing through, and a grass pitch, accompanied by text titled "Seeing a goal scored from a passing train
Open spread of Pickles magazine showing Michael Parkin's striking blue and black illustrated football with radiating rays on left page, and bold typography reading "Nudge Racism Out of The Game" on right page
Share

Further Reading