As usual the summer has been flying by and we’re already a week in to July. Pre-season football is about to get under way.
For football photographers – or at least Club Photographers – that means the fun and games can begin again, albeit a little different from the norm. Rather than the wet and cold nights through the season where keeping feeling in your fingers is as tricky as getting the winning “cele” shot, summer football offers something refreshingly different.
As I enter my second pre-season as photographer at Tranmere, I do so with a real sense of anticipation. Those pre-season trips to Heswall, Cammel Laird and Marine are always fun. A relaxed atmosphere, lots of new players to get used to and hopefully some sunshine as well. Football photography while wearing a t-shirt is a rare treat.
The gruelling schedule of pre-season friendlies starts this coming weekend for most clubs, however last week I was presented with the opportunity of visiting the training ground to photograph a session. It was a wonderfully hot morning, and unfortunately for the players, there was a lot of running to get through.
Shooting at the training ground in pre-season was an interesting change. There was a relaxed and positive feel to the place, and there’s some potential for some interesting photos as a result.
As new Rovers’ manager Gary Brabin looked on, his coaching staff put the squad through their paces. There were lots of new faces, possibly some trialists too. There was a huge amount of water and energy drinks on hand.
It presented the opportunity to get a few shots that were different, ones you may not have the time or inclination to look for during a competitive first team game. Water coolers, training equipment, new brightly-coloured boots worn by the players. Those kinds of things.
After a really enjoyable morning at Raby, I took some time to go through everything I had shot. Several hundred shots in total, and near 150 ready for the club use. It was a diverse and extensive collection.
Saturday sees the match action start, and it’s one of my favourite pre-season venues I will be shooting – Heswall.
The ground can be a great little sun trap and also offers photographers the chance to get incredibly close to the action. Last time Rovers played there, I had just purchased my first DSLR and just stood behind three rows of people trying to snap the odd picture. The results were questionable, as you’d expect.
Hopefully Saturday will be more productive.