Always good for a photo

This weekend saw Prescot Cables playing at home to Durham City for the second time this season, in the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy.

We bill these games as the "Road to Wembley", although, as Prescot are in the lowest tier of clubs eligible to enter the competition, the likelihood of getting there is extremely slim - Wembley's local club have a better chance of getting there in the FA Vase. That is not to say they are meaningless games: like the FA Cup, there is prize money for each round - in the preliminary rounds equivalent to two or three weeks' gate receipts for most teams entering at this stage. Sadly, a defeat for Prescot meant no prize, and as the away team's travel costs are paid out of gate receipts, the distance Durham had to travel will have taken up most of those. Hopefully the unpleasant weather encouraged people to want something warm from the tea bar, or to stay in the bar and buy a drink.

Prescot's first half performance was particularly poor, and ultimately cost us the game. However, our second half was considerably improved, not least for the mood of the supporters, by the return of Phil Cooney.

Phil has been a popular player over the last few years, for his pace on the ball and eye for goal. He decided to retire a year or so ago, but has been persuaded to return.

He is an example of a type of player who is a gift for the photographer, what I think of as "always good for a photo". When I started taking pictures, I was not quite so quick with the shutter, and I had less lenses to cover the field. So, the players who were best for a beginner to get a good photo were mobile (an expansive running style was a definite advantage), playing in midfield or forward positions, and commanding a regular place in the team, so I could become familiar with the way he played. Here is an example of an earlier photo, away to Hednesford Town in 2008.

Other examples of players who could almost guarantee a good photo (and an excuse to have a look through my photo album) were Eamon Price, Karl Connolly and Steve Williams, all here in action against Nantwich Town in 2008.

These days I tend to snap away furiously, which generates a lot of images to look through and choose from, but means I get something usable to for the slide show for most, if not all, of our players in a game. The pictures from the weekend's game can be seen here.