I’ve spent my free time the past few weeks during quarantine combining my love of footy and film by turning my favorite @A24 films into an imaginary football league. Here’s a thread of every kit and team I’ve made so far (I’ll add a new kit each day):

First up in the A24 Films as Football Clubs League: FC Moonlight’s primary kit. Coached by Barry Jenkins they once famously maintained 98% possession for 45min and scored with the last kick of the half against Sporting Paimon SC.

This kit is inspired by one of the most beautiful scenes in recent memory. The way that scene was shot by James Laxton, the performances, all to the tune of my favorite songs ever Nicholas Britell’s The Middle of The World. Barry Jenkins won my heart with this scene.

Also it’s worth mentioning before going any further that these are me designing for fun. I’m including @IcarusFCphl’s incredible logo on the designs as their work very much inspired the series! (And they’re the ones to bring it to life if that were possible *cough cough @A24*).

Continuing A24 Films as Football Clubs: FC Moonlight’s 2nd kit, wearing Chiron’s name - a quiet man off the pitch but one of the most intelligent playmakers in the (imaginary) game.

This is an aerial imagining of one of the most vulnerable moments in the film. There is so much to be said for how McCraney wrote this scene & how Sanders and Jerome bring it to life. From macho facades to intense vulnerability. So many men know that feeing.

And if y’all haven’t guessed it yet - Moonlight gets 3 kits, because, ya know, it has to.

A24 Films as Football Clubs: FC Moonlight’s 3rd kit. This jersey was worn by the team in the Oscar Cup final when a dramatic last minute goal from team captain Black saw the club lift its first major title.

There’s so much about this one that I love, mainly because of the included quotes from the film and song Hello Stranger by Barbara Lewis & how real the notion is that hearing a song is enough to reignite an old connection.

Also worth mentioning I attempted to styled the “Kevin’s kitchen” sponsor after the actual diner in Miami where this was filmed.

Which A24 film do y’all want to see next?

A24 films as football clubs: Sea Birds Soccer Club. Defined by the club mantra, “Bad luck to kill a sea bird,” team infighting has led to many an explosive altercation on & off the pitch. Despite the tumultuous locker room, they’ve never been relegated.

There is so much iconography to work with in The Lighthouse. I tried to lean on what would be most absurd (given the perplexed feeling I left the cinema with after 1st viewing), hence the team name, central focus of the crest, and repeating “WHAT?” trim.

A24 films as football clubs: Sea Birds SC 2nd kit. An ode to the lighthouse beside the coastal stadium, this kit bears the name of club captain Thomas Wake. Best known for his impassioned speeches, Wake once shouted at a supposedly “lazy” teammate, “Let Neptune strike ye dead!”

What film should I share next?

A24 films as football clubs: The San Francisco Witch Hats. Gilded in gold and bearing a star above the club crest, the Witch Hats are the only team to have ever gone undefeated for an entire season across all competitions.

Of the 3 kits this film inspired, this 1st one is most directly inspired by the house. In the opening 5min, we get one of my favorite montages ever as Jimmie and Mont skate to the house while the voiceover references the house‘s characteristics and proclaims, “This is our home!”

The club crest features my favroite piece of the house, the Witch Hat, hence the kind of absurd team name. Also included is my absolute favorite quote from the film, “Let us give each other the courage to see beyond the stories we were born into.”

A24 films as football clubs: The SF Witch Hats 2nd kit. Rooted in pride of place, the majority of Witch Hats players were born and raised in San Francisco. In their unbeaten season, every player in the squad was a SF native.

A look at the mood board for this one. The goal was to create a kit that felt as grand as the house and Jimmie’s appreciation of it.

A24 films as football clubs: The SF Witch Hats 3rd kit. After his retirement, team captain Jimmie Fails started competing as a pro skater. After 3 X-Games gold medals, he again switched sports and now competes on the US Olympic Rowing team.

This is the last of the kits for @LastBlackManSF, inspired by this stunning moment at the films conclusion. Since I missed posting yesterday I’ll jump right into the next kit

A24 films as footy clubs: Magic Castle SC’s 1st kit. Despite a history of poor leadership at the club, you’d be hard pressed to find a more passionate supporters group than the Pink Wall. They’re best known for their motto, “Foul-mouthed & lovable.” Mostly the foul-mouthed part.

Truths told through the eyes of children is what makes this film special, so the goal with this jersey was to be as joyful and earnest as Moonee’s perspective. A stucco texture and a rainbow is all ya need :)

A24 films as football clubs: Magic Castle SC 2nd kit wearing the name of player/manager Bobby. He once kicked a player out of the locker room for letting a drop of ice cream melt onto the floor. Ice creams are a regular post training snack at Magic Castle SC.

Bobby and the motel were such important characters in this film, they deserved their own kit. This jersey was illustrated from this scene when Moonee kills the power and everyone slowly filters and we see just how many lives Bobby is responsible for in his role as motel manager.

I put a pause on sharing nee designs here for a while. Obviously ideas for imaginary team jerseys are not what’s most important in the world right now. I’m going to start sharing again, but I want to first encourage y’all to keep elevating black voices and fighting for justice.

In the event that any of these ever become real, especially the Moonlight kits, I will ensure that proceeds go to supporting black members working in the creative spaces. Any suggestions on organizations to connect with would be deeply appreciated.

A24 films as football Clubs: Harga FF. In a 90 year history, Harga FF have never lost a match at home. Opponents have described the coordinated, almost cult like chanting, as the single most uncomfortable experience in the footballing world.

I initially had a much simpler approach to this first Midsommar kit, trying to emulate Dani’s clothing. But then said fuck it I wanted these jerseys to feel as bold and overwhelming as the film made me feel.

A24 films as football clubs: Harga FF, the May Queen kit. This kit is worn only once a year in celebration of Midsommar. After the midsommar match each year, a massive bonfire takes place outside of the stadium, where Harga supporters often burn the jerseys of their opponents.

It had to be done

Alright enough of me slacking, which team do y’all want to see next?

A24 films as football clubs: The Sacramento Sparros 1st kit. Founded in 2002, the club has struggled to live up to the ownerships expectations. The tension between club captain Lady Bird & the majority owner once got so out of hand that the player threatened to buy the club out.

Starting at the end with this one. The film ends on this really romantic nostalgia of Sacramento. Given how Christianity immortalizes stories or settings in stained glass, I thought that would be a fitting choice for representing Sacramento via a tower bridge composition.