Christophe Darbelet, a photographer from Vichy, has captured the essence of rural football through his lens, offering a unique and profoundly human perspective on this popular sport. His work skillfully combines portraits of players, landscapes, and life scenes, immersing us in the world of football far from the grand urban arenas, where the sport is experienced with a more palpable authenticity and passion.

In this book, Darbelet navigates between portraits of footballers, often captured in moments of reflection or challenge, and the rural landscapes that serve not only as the backdrop for these sporting encounters but also as a character in its own right within his compositions.

What stands out in Darbelet’s work is his ability to treat his subjects without artifice, weaving a narrative where absurdity and humor coexist naturally. His photographs depict not only the beauty and complexity of the rural world but also the central place that football occupies there, as a vector of community, sharing, and identity. This approach, both tender and mischievous, offers a refreshing view of the sport, far from clichés and conventional representations.

Through his images, Christophe Darbelet invites broader reflection on the role of sport in our societies, particularly in rural areas where traditions and passions are passed down from generation to generation. His work is a vibrant tribute to these communities and their unique way of living football, a universal sport rooted in local lands and stories.