University of West England (UWE) | United Kingdom
Series description
Clwb is a long-term documentary photography project exploring life in post-industrial Wales through the sporting and social clubs of the South Wales Valleys. It examines how these spaces, shaped by the legacy of coal and steel, continue to foster identity, resilience, and community. Through portraiture, landscape, and collaboration, Clwb celebrates the people and places that sustain Welsh culture in the post-industrial landscape.
Trophies
As part of his investigation into photographing sports clubs, Laurie Broughton was invited to photograph Irish dancers just outside Newport. He befriended the grandmother of one of the dancers, who later invited him into her home to photograph her children’s and grandchildren's trophies, which were proudly displayed in the front room. Since the 1840s during the Great Famine, Wales has seen Irish families arriving at ports like Newport, seeking work in the booming coal and iron industries.
© Laurie Broughton, United Kingdom, European Student Award, Shortlist, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Pigeon In Hands
Pigeon racing, often referred to as the ‘poor man’s racehorse,’ became a deeply ingrained pastime among working miners in the Welsh Valleys. Rooted in working-class culture, the sport offered miners a sense of competition, routine, and pride beyond the pit. Today, pigeon racing is largely generational; fathers pass down their skills, knowledge, and passion to their sons and daughters, sustaining the tradition within families and communities.
© Laurie Broughton, United Kingdom, European Student Award, Shortlist, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
South Wales Jazz Band
Laurie Broughton photographed the Cefn Fforest Marching Jazz Band as they competed at a competition in Caerphilly. He was immediately struck by the musicians’ costumes and the energy of their performance, as they stormed around the sports hall playing Taylor Swift covers on kazoos. While they prepared for their performance, Broughton photographed the band in moments of transition, adjusting costumes, warming up, and interacting with one another.
© Laurie Broughton, United Kingdom, European Student Award, Shortlist, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Boxer
Boxing runs very deep in the culture and history of the South Wales Valleys, and the region has produced a disproportionately high number of champions, including several world title holders. The sport is linked to the region's industrial past, providing a path to glory, and a source of immense community pride for working-class individuals.
© Laurie Broughton, United Kingdom, European Student Award, Shortlist, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
MCC President
Numerous motorcycle clubs have developed in the South Wales Valleys in response to the surrounding landscape, with groups forming around a shared working-class heritage and a love of riding. The MCC is a women-only motorcycle club based in South Wales that raises money for charity through organised events and ride-outs.
© Laurie Broughton, United Kingdom, European Student Award, Shortlist, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards