For the Love of the Game
Location and date are unknown (possibly an Aramco residential area). but this child’s enthusiasm for football is symbolic of the passion of the game and its players. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
An empty dusty street, a grassy lot, or even just an alleyway between two buildings; any spot can easily be turned into a playing field. After all, where there’s a will and passion, there’s a way… and there’s a sport..
As these beautiful photos from Aramco archives capture, there was no need for fancy stadiums or even golf links; people came with their balls, their clubs, their excitement, and played their hearts out.
What these images capture is the ultimate team spirit, that invisible force that turns individual talent into collective triumph.
For some sports, like golf, it is a sport of solitude and precision, where mental strength matters as much as skill. Otherwise, whether you were running, jumping, or kicking, bouncing or chasing after a ball, the spirit and love of the sport was always there. Each photo shows us that, time and time again, the love for the game was fierce and remains so.
Sports were and remain about raw fiery passion, and communities coming together. It is also a bridge between heritage, traditions and ambition—where team spirit, whether on a football pitch or a golf course or a horse, continues to unite and inspire.
Enjoy discovering these rarities from Aramco Archives.
Jiddah, March 1955 | Intense play in a game between Aramco’s Saudi team and Jiddah-Makkah Saudi Team. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
Dammam, December 1962 | Soccer match between Al-Itifag sports club at Dammam and Nahdat Al-Shabab sports club. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
Ras Al-Mish’ab, March 1954 | Golf at Ras Al-Mish’ab. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
Dhahran, September 4th, 1963 | Bud Beidenharn attempts a shot from a tree hazard at Rolling Hills Golf Course. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
Dhahran, August 15, 1953 | Muhammad ibn Abdullah makes a perfect basket in the last quarter of the game. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
No captions, but appears to be a marathon in Dhahran. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
No caption, but appears to be one of the residential camps of Aramco. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
