FPA Member Profile

Canon, Nikon or Sony?
“Canon”

What came first, sport or photography?
“Sport. I used to play hockey when I was a kid and watched a lot of football. I supported my local football team Glentoran when I was growing up, but my dad eventually got me in to Glasgow Rangers. He used to take me over on the ferry to watch home matches at Ibrox, which I loved. I particularly remember going all the time during the 1986/87 season.
My football photography took off around the age of 17 or 18 years old I started working at Glentoran FC as a club photographer.”

Do you have a favourite memory or anecdote from your time as a football photographer? 
“I’ll always remember the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final in Rio between Germany and Argentina for all the wrong reasons. I had a photographer sat inside me who insisted on using a 200-400mm to cover the final, and throughout the match he kept blocking my view of the goalmouth with his lens. The match went deep into extra time, and when Mario Gotze of Germany popped up at my end to score the winning goal in the 113 minute, his lens swung round and blocked my perfect view of the goal. I was gutted to miss the most important picture of the tournament due to the incompetence of a fellow professional.”

First football match photographed?
“Ballyclare Comrades v Carrick Rangers in 1990. I was shooting on Ilford HP5 black and white film, and I remember basically missing everything!”

Best footballer to work with?
“I’ve been lucky to work on commissions with many top footballers. The best have to be Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, though. Top professionals who introduce themselves and take a genuine interest in what we do.”

Favourite football ground to work at, and why?
“I would say Hampden Park in Scotland. I love the backgrounds.”