The A Team

Tom McGuinness was anticipating the final round of pit closures in County Durham. He called these miners ‘The A Team’ to show that they were the best men.

They are deliberating between the left-hand tunnel, with its old and labour-intensive working practices, or the right, which is modern and mechanised. It is a choice between old and new, between dignity and work for many, or modern efficiency and redundancy. From the distance come the overseers, representing the politicians who will make the decision for them.

Gemini Collection, Zurbarán Trust