Le Metro pulls into Boulonge M10 as the cool air of the Parisian streets begin to mingle with the condensed ventilation of the underground, an area of Paris where anything can happen. The stadium belonging to the new dominators of French Football only a mere brisk-walk-away. A Club de Football with a history of iconic violence, fanaticism and pride for the city.
If I told you there was once a Paris Saint-Germain that played at Parc Des Princes who were relatively inconsistent, abound to the odd calamitous moment and had players by the name of Pegguy Luyindula…many football fans these days probably wouldn’t believe me.
If I also told you that a tale had emerged from those days just prior to Qatar Investment about a Parisian Ultra armed only with his trustworthy camera from within the stands, pitch-side and amongst the wild celebrations…I would hope that you’d pull up on the chase-lounge, pour a Pastis and have a read.
Lets take a walk through the camera lens of that very man who was there, wore the shirt and captured the images. Rencontrer un photographe, Merry Moraux.
Ici, c’est Paris!
Boulogne M10
It all begins as always in Paris, over lunch.
2008 was a strange year for financial markets and many of the worlds leading Investment banks faced absolute crisis, with all this looming Football faced difficult decisions. At this point in Paris Saint-Germains’s history they were a club that struggled to compete for French Argenterie and seldom ascended from the group stages in Europe, the man pushed forward to change these fortunes was a certain Charles Villeneuve.
Villeneuve took over a Club De Football who had just retired top-scorer and all-out Legend Pauleta and bankrolled a new flux of youth protegees, not to mention big money moves in terms of wages for Makelele, Sessegnon, Giuly and Kezman. Not so much a club in transition as a club with big ambitions and big spending. The objectif focused on success in Europe and ripping the league title away from the firm clutches of Lyon. The club from the Rhone Valley winning 7 consecutive Ligue 1 titles in succession between 2001-2008, a dominance craved by the onlooking Les Rouges-et-Bleus.
Now where’s our Ultra in all of this…
Roll forward to 2024 and I found myself reminiscing of this period in time for Paris Saint-Germains’ history, I’d recently visited the city and taken note of the situation now surrounding the club. Superstores aplenty, Neymar’s -Messi’s -Mbappe’s, what the hell there is even a PSG Superstore erected in London these days.
London PSG Store
But in 2008 and for decades passed, Paris had a not-so-underground Football Ultra fascination. To call these groups of supporters “Ultras” would immediately suggest thuggery, racism and elements of either Far Right or Left Wing persuasion’s but to hang that impression would be a disservice to the sheer abundance of joy, love and unrivalled support these groups bring to football.
Paris Saint-Germain have always had the roots of Paris carved into its veins, from its establishment in the summer of 1970 to multi-billion pound investment in 2011. The blue-print has always been to keep the fans engaged and at the fore-front of its operation. In those establishing years and with the coincidence of moving to Parc Des Princes many supporter incentives were touted to draw the crowds, with this begun the groupings of Ultras. Modelled crudely on the make-up of English Hooligans’ of the 1980’s a new group emerged from the stanchions…their name The Boulogne Boys.
Noticing this fanatical support from far away in the cushioned seats, the PSG Hierarchy began to work out a plan to separate the average spectator from the cultured nature of the newly formed Ultra Group.With this segregation at opposite ends of the stadium, naturally or not-so a new Ultra group emerged. Formed in 1991 from the ashes of Lutece Falco and Supras Auteuil arrived Virage Auteuil, with their stadium presence being tiled more towards Flares, Tifos and making a carnival atmosphere. Thus paving the way for the Parc des Princes world renowned gameday experience.
Amongst all of this and from within the many Tifos a photographer emerged, Merry Moraux. Capturing moments of triumph, the tears and the evolution of a football club superbly through his Camera lens between the years of 2005 to 2010. From within the stands and also Pitch-side he created a photographic biography of PSG’s inner-most being, observed, curated and gifted in Merry Moraux‘s fine book “O Ville Lumiere”.
The 2008-09 season prior to any investment rumblings started with optimism but soon began to peter out. Moments of magic beating Marseille at the Velodrome 4-2 and a decent run in Europe including a thumping four-nil victory against FC Twente soon became moments that were lost forever…except for inside Merry’s camera lens.
A photograph of that Soiree de Triomphe Europeen perhaps summed this era up in its best possible light…away from the doldrums of 2008 finance and changes of guard, one man illuminated the crowd and bought that sensation of glory to the streets of Paris again, Peggy Luyindula. On a December night at Parc De Princes, Les Rouges-et-Bleus needed a victory against FC Twente to qualify for European Knock-out stages. An ill-fated memory of the past haunted PSG supporters and that all too familiar feeling of coming so near, yet so far in Europe hung in the Parisian winter air.
However, on this evening they were not to be denied.
The forgotten man quoted at the top of this article found himself directly in front of goal early into the game, after a mix up in the FC Twente defense and with the ball looping up into the air Luyindula leathered a powerful shot over the keeper, nestling it firmly into the back of the net. Poignantly running away from the Boulonge Ultras and sailing along the sidelines of the stadium like an eagle in flight. To cap off the evening and captured magnificently by Merry’s Camera was that man Luyindula again. Latching onto a through ball, he rounded the FC Twente goalkeeper before scooping the ball into an empty net. This moment Sparking Frenzy, Excitement and sheer beauty within the four walls of the stadium. Merriment exuberated as Luyindula weaved and dodged through the advertisement boards, followed by streams of cameramen and the rest of the PSG squad. Coming to rest, just-in time for Merry’s shutter to capture the image.
Luyindula on his knees, arms stretched towards the adoring Auteuil Rouge.
Pure Jubilation.
Luyindula captured superbly by Merry Moraux.
Moments to capture, maybe moments that’ll still burn fires in new supporters today. What we do know is that Football is always, and forever will be…for the fans.
Vive Les Ultras, Vive Paris.
Merci Merry, pour capturer ces moments, pour la passion, pour les fans, pour le football.
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