Introducing the Joy of the Journey
Exploring the Joy of the Journey with fans from one of England's biggest clubs
Pledgeball’s new series meets fans to explore the journeys, routines and shared experiences that make a matchday.
Matchday starts long before kick-off. It might be catching up with a mate on the way to the ground, or reaching the point on your usual walk where you can first see or hear the crowd. Those moments become part of the routine, and part of what keeps us coming back.
To celebrate this, we’re launching Joy of the Journey, a series of short films talking to fans about their matchday experiences beyond the 90 minutes. We want to hear what makes the journey special, who they share it with and how following their club brings them closer to the people and places around them.
First stop Arsenal with Mav
For our first episode, we join Arsenal fan, content creator and filmmaker Mav, known on Instagram as @mavthefilmmaker, to hear what a trip to the Emirates means to him.
“I always say when you go to an Arsenal game, you’re never going alone. It’s like finding a family that you never knew existed but you always needed.”
For Mav, that feeling starts on the walk from Highbury & Islington. He likes to arrive at least half an hour before kick-off, giving himself time to soak up the atmosphere outside the stadium and get among the crowd.
He talks about the diversity of the fans around him, with different languages, backgrounds and generations brought together by their club.
“We’re wearing the same scarf, the same colour. Today we’re family.”
It’s a feeling he recognises across football, whether people are following the women’s or men’s game, Arsenal or anyone else. For Mav, the chance to bring people together is what makes it all matter.
At Pledgeball, we stand with fans to protect the game we love and the world we play it in. Joy of the Journey celebrates the communities that form around sport, and the places and shared experiences we want future generations of fans to enjoy too.
Watch Mav’s film above and look out for more fans’ stories as the series continues.