FPA Member Profile

What came first, sport or photography?
Sport

What was your career path?
I used to drive to Empics in Nottingham to run films from the Forest and Notts County games for 6 months (for free) then got a job working on the picture desk before being taught how to dev films and going out assisting photographers

Who did you look up to when you were young and who has helped you most during your development?
As I lived in Nottingham I used to look for the Empics pictures but always enjoyed seeing pics by David Ashdown of the Independent. Whilst I worked at Empics one of the Directors there, Neal Simpson helped me further my career

Football memories.
Being taken to watch Liverpool when I was 9 or 10 by my Dad and watching them beat WBA 1-0. I stood right behind the goal and watched Ian Rush score the winner

Easiest one-on-one subject, hardest one on one subject and why?
Hardest – Laurent Blanc whilst at Inter Milan. I had to do head shots for Team Marketing for the Champions League, and started at their training ground at 9 am. I’d finished all players by 1pm and had a flight at 6pm to Naples. Laurent Blanc took nearly 3hrs to turn up as he was busy doing his hair and generally couldn’t be bothered with the picture.

Favourite football ground to work at and why?
Arsenal as the facilities and ease to work at are very good

Biggest lesson learnt
look for clean backgrounds

Canon, Nikon or Sony?
Canon

Best advice for youngsters
Look for footie at your local park as can sometimes give very good pictures

First football match photographed?
Mansfield Town at home but not sure who against

If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
Better off than I am now!

One change for the better to improve football photography for the next generation of photographers?
I’d get all upcoming photographers to start lower league before going to the EPL